Styles and epochs - a short overview

Late 18th century to Biedermeier

In about 1750 contradances dominated the European ballroom - the minuet, however, still being the dance to show a true dancer's skill in society. In the last decades of the 18th century the so-called German dances became increasingly popular, especially the landler with its great variety of gracious figures and the waltz with its swift turns. Longway country dances, the Englischen or Anglaisen, and Cotillons, French contredances for two or four couples, completed the ballroom program. The quadrille, developed in about 1820, combined contredance figures with the steps of round dances like the waltz or well-liked folk dances like the polka.