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The Dance Card, an Historical Perspective:
Did you ever wonder where the phrase, “Sorry, but my dance card is full.” comes
from? Do you even know what a dance card is, or how a dance card was used?
A dance card was a small booklet, usually leather covered, that listed the songs
that an orchestra would play throughout a dance or Ball. Typically 18-24 songs would be played. Attached to the dance card was a pencil that gentlemen would use to write their names in the card – next to
the specific piece of music to which they wished to dance with the maiden. A string or ribbon with a hook on it was also attached to the dance card, allowing a maiden to wear the card on the cuff of her sleeve.
It was up to the gentleman to make the initial request to dance with a maiden, by
signing her dance card. However, it was up to the maiden to continue the courtship by indicating interest in doing so.
The idea of having a program booklet for a
dance most likely started with royal families who wanted to use such written documents as mechanisms to enhance the visibility and recognition (and thus the importance of) the King, Queen and their heirs. Imperial
families could afford to commission artists to design and manufacture very elegant dance cards.
A major manufacturer of Dance Cards (or
Ballspendens) in Vienna, Austria was August Klein who designed and made dance cards for the Imperial Family. Vienna, the city of the waltz, was the center of social class.
For instance, in the 1830’s almost half the population of Vienna, nearly 200,000 people, would attend a dance of some sort during the week before Lent. Perhaps this was the “Marti Gras” of that period.
Johann Strauss was the most recognized composer during the mid 1800”s. His “Blue
Danube Waltz” is notable in establishing the tempo of the Ball. Other composers of music for Viennese dances included Schultze, Musard, and Lumbye.
Noteworthy: In The Sound of Music featuring Julie Andrews, you may recall that a
formal ball was held in the home of Captain Von Trapp. Austrians were known for their elaborate dances, especially the waltz. Dancing was part of the culture with
young people receiving instruction in the art of ballroom dancing starting in early childhood.
Societies and Dance Cards:
Affluent segments of society would sponsor a ball in an effort to bring out the eligible
maidens of the day. Such segments included professional people, such as attorneys, architects, pharmacist, and doctors. In the late 1800’s, if a fee was charged at all for
attendance at a formal ball, women were often assessed a slightly higher fee to cover the cost of the dance card, which then became a keepsake from the evening.
Other less affluent segments of society would sponsor their own balls in much the
same manner, and for the same purpose: to provide visibility for its eligible young women. Labor unions and large manufacturing firms often played a major role in the
social activities in many blue-collar communities. If a mining company sponsored a ball, for example, the dance card might have a small pick and shovel attached as its
charm, replacing the royal crest attached to cards created for upper-crust events. It was very common for a dance card to include a charm that reflected the society or community hosting the ball
By the beginning of the 1900’s dance cards were fashionable in all types of societies
and its popularity extended beyond western Europe, into Hungary, Russia, America and other parts of the world.
As time passed, the quality and details that went into the design of dance cards
diminished. Now much more simple, and made of heavy paper, these cards were often thrown away after a dance. Almost anyone could host a dance and create a
dance card listing the songs to be played. Dance sponsors included schools, hiking clubs, city dance clubs – just about any group who might think of hosting a dance.
By the turn of the century, even when a well-heeled group hosted a formal dance,
such as an architectural society, it was quite common to charge each maiden a modest incremental fee to help cover the cost of the dance card. Food and drinks were usually included in the overall attendance fees.
To learn more about dance cards or to view and purchase your own antique dance
card, visit http://www.drawrm.com/dance.htm, “The Dance Card Museum.”
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