Fine

Description of the forms of fines

There exist two kinds of fines:

the English fine , or “English column” (: longway for ace many ace will ), consists of two lines laid out face to face: a line of men faces a line of ladies. The first couple dances the first resumption of the figure and finishes in second place. Of resumption in recovery, it continues “to go down”, until being in the last places of the two lines, while the other couples increased by as many places towards the “top” of the dance, then go down again in the same way, once arrived in first place. The dance is considered accomplished when the first couple regained its initial place.
the French fine is danced “in square”: four couples laid out on the sides of a square dance to two, four or eight, according to whether the figure orders it. Classically, the dance proceeds by alternating nine “entries” (verses) with a “refrain” (figure specific to each fine). The nine entries are, in the order: the round , the hand , the two hands , the winch of the ladies , the winch of the men , the round of the ladies , the round of the men , allemande and, again, the round to finish.

Description of the principal figures

Figures of the French fine

Entered

1. the round (or large round) : the eight dancers give each other the hands and the circle turns thus formed eight measures to the direction of the watch (in driven out side, to assemble at the last time) and “diverts” eight measures to the direction against the watch.
2. the hand : the partners being face to face, they give each other the right hand and change place in two measurements (that is to say a step of gavotte), make a rigadoon, regain their starting place while being given this time the left hand and make a rigadoon again.
3. the two hands : as above, but the partners give each other the two hands to the outward journey and the return.
4. the winch of the ladies : the four ladies give each other the right hand to the center of the square and turn four measures to the direction of the watch (in half-hitch). They release the right hand, make half-turn, give each other the left hand to the center and return in their starting places in the same way.
5. the winch of the men : it is the entry above carried out pareillement by the men.
6. the round of the ladies : it is the first entry ( the round ) carried out by the four ladies alone, in four measures to the direction of the watch and four measures to the contrary direction.
7. the round of the men : it is the entry above carried out pareillement by the men.
8. allemande : the partners being side by side, right shoulders in contact, they give each other the hands, arms crosseds behind the back (the man, left arm behind the back, takes the right hand of the lady; the lady makes the reverse). They thus turn a half-turn in the direction of the watch in two measurements (in steps driven out before), release and make a rigadoon face to face. They take the opposite position (left shoulders in contact), return in their starting places in a half-turn in the direction against the watch and again make a rigadoon face to face.
9. the round : resumption of the first entry.

Ahead and behind or to advance and move back : the dancer carries out a step of gavotte ahead (two measurements) and one behind (two measurements).
allemande with the four corners
To drive out and drive out (or to drive out above and below ): the partners, being side by side at the beginning, change place laterally in two measurements (in driven out steps). The lady drives out on the left, in front of the man who drives out on the right. Two following measurements bring back the partners to the places of origin, the man spending this time in front of the lady. One often adds a step of rigadoon at the end of each displacement.
To drive out longitudinally and to drive out side : the partners of the odd couples are made back and drive out with the against-partner, then return in their places of origin. The even couples carry out then the same figure between them.

poussette : the partners being face to face, the right hand of the one in the left hand of the other, the man moves back in two measurements while the lady advances, in a step of gavotte; then one reverses the directions, in two other measurements. All two measurements, one can add a rigadoon if the musical structure suggests it. This figure also allows two couples coast beside permuting their places.
the small chain : it is usually carried out by the couples opposite. Each dancer changes place with that which faces him by giving him the right hand to the passage, then gives the left hand to his partner by changing place again. A half-chain is accomplished. The way in square continues in the same way to regain its starting place by alternating right hand and left hand. The complete figure occupies eight measurements and is danced in step of gavotte or half-hitch.
the large chain : the partners of each couple face and give each other the right hand to change place. The man arrives vis-a-vis the following lady and the left hand gives him, and so on until each one regained its place of origin. The complete figure occupies eight measurements and is danced in half-hitch.
the tail of the cat : it is carried out by the couples opposite which are held by the hand. The two couples are circumvented in the direction against the watch, until finding itself in the opposite places. The figure occupies eight measurements and is danced in step of gavotte or half-hitch. It ends in a rigadoon. The two other couples make in the same way. After a resumption of the whole, each couple will be found in its place of origin.
the four faces : the couples of head advance one towards the other by giving each other the hand, are released while arriving at the center and give the two hands to their opposite, then the two new couples move each one towards the couples on side in driven out steps. They do each one the way in opposite direction and return in their places. The whole occupies eight measurements. The couples on side make in the same way in their turn.
the square of Mahony : the couples of head advance one towards the other by giving each other the hand, are released while arriving at the center and give the two hands to their opposite, then the two new couples move each one towards the places of the couples on side in driven out steps, move back each one with the four corners of the square and return in their respective places in driven out steps. At the same time, the couples on side move away in driven out steps, advance in the places of the couples of head, come in the center with theirs opposite and return in their respective places while moving back. The figure occupies sixteen measurements, then she is repeated contrary, the couples of head starting by moving away, the couples on side by advancing in the center.

Figures of the English fine

Descend-to assemble : it is the figure which corresponds to the Lead down-lead up of John Playford. The partners cont side by side and give each other the interior hand. They go down in the middle of the formation and 4 measurements (in half-hitch), change direction and of hand and go back to their places of origin in four measurements. Descendre by the hands will want to say that they are held face to face and the two hands are given. Displacement is then side, in driven out steps.
To turn in bottom : according to the practice of use in the English fines, this figure corresponds to the Cast down : the dancer goes down from a place in his line by the outside of the formation (behind the second dancer). The figure always leads the couple moving to progress of a place at the same time, while going down or while going up. It generally occupies two measurements and is done in half-hitch.
To cross a couple : way during which the partners cross in the middle of the formation and pass behind the dancers of the second couple, in order to finish in second place, the lady in the line of the men and the man in that of the ladies.
Figurer consists in only advancing or couples some (in a step of gavotte) towards another dancer or another couple. This figure occupies two measurements.
the eight : the Figure off eight is danced by a man around the second couple, passing in the anti-clockwise direction around the lady and clockwise around the man, to return in his starting place. Its partner acts symmetrically, passing clockwise around the second man and in opposite direction around the second lady. Several alternatives of this figure are possible, either in different directions, or with opposed couples, or still with its own partner.
the hey : this figure, about which already Thoinot Arbeau in its Orchésographie speaks, is of frequent use in the English fine. Three dancers carry out simultaneously a figure of eight and return in their starting places. The first dancer starts with a loop in time direction, crosses between the second and trosième, continues by a loop in contrary direction and crosses again between the second and the third to regain its starting place.

. Here eight principal steps:

1. The hitch of gavotte (Branch, p. 166):

(&) resting against the left foot, the right point in third back position, to on the spot bend the left leg
(1) jump on the left foot and extending the right leg
(&) a step of the right foot ahead, on point
(2) a step of the left foot ahead, on point

2. Lassemblé is a jumped movement which, on the basis of a simple or double support, led to a closed position (feet togethers). Assembled is often used as conclusion with the others not:

(1) a falling down jump feet togethers, bent knees, followed almost at once of an extension

(2) pause, or preparation of the following step

3. The not of gavotte is composed of two parts, namely a hitch (the first measurement) follow-up of a assembled (the second measurement)

4. The half-hitch is a kind of hopped step or alternate “bell-foot” which one could bring closer, on the rhythmic level, of driven out

5. The driven out is a kind of side “gallop”. Driven out on the left (Branch, pp. 175-176):

(1) departure in second position, jump on the right foot

(&) a side step of the left foot, while maintaining a support equal on the right foot

6. The not of faggot , sometimes called not of faggot (ahead, behind, or above and below), sometimes foil or not of faggot simplified (Branch, pp. 123-124):

(&) resting against the left foot, the right point in third back position, to bend the two legs while bringing back the right foot close to the left, without support (“what is invited to fold under oneself”, written Rameau)

(1) a step of the right foot ahead, on point

(&) a step of the left foot ahead, on point

(2) a step of the right foot ahead, on point

these last three steps can be carried out ahead, behind or on the side (above and below) according to whether the figure orders it

7. The balanced is a swinging of a foot on the other, of before behind (Branch, pp. 153-154):

(&) resting against the two feet, to bend the two legs

(1) a step of the right foot ahead, on point

(&) to lower the ogee, while bringing closer the left leg bent

(2) a step to the left foot behind, on point

(&) to lower the left heel, while bringing closer the bent right leg

8. The rigadoon is a step of conclusion which has the rhythmic formula of the step of gavotte. He plays a part of ornament, ends in an assembled step and is carried out on the spot (Branch, pp. 159-160):

(1) a jump on the left foot, while the right leg opens laterally on the right

(&) a jump on the right foot, while the left leg opens laterally on the left

(2) to join the left foot to the right foot, on the spot

(3-4) jump feet togethers

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