Quadrille

Quadrille which originated in France in the 1760s is a traditional dance practiced in Carriacou consisting of six figures or sets of dances with six different sets of music and four (4) couples dancing in a square.

This traditional dance is performed with string band music and includes the following figures:

• The first set, which used to be called “the trousers” The rhythm used is four-fourths or six-eighths. This figure is mild and smooth.
• The second set is called “the Summer,” which is light and warm.
• The third set is called “the Hen.” The Hen has a six-eighths rhythm. It also has the most moves. All of the dancing couples move together. One can tangle everything up if a move is missed.
• The fourth set is called “the Shepherd Girl” and is more rhythmic, romantic and humorous. During this set, the gentlemen stop dancing, and the ladies scratch their heads.
• The fifth figure is a formation of a circle holding hands. Dancers move right or left, and when they get directly opposite where they started, they will stop, the ladies will bow once, twice, then wheel and dance around.
• The sixth figure is like the fifth, but when the dancers get to the opposite station, the men bow first, at which point they will wheel and dance heels and toes or a waltz. Sometimes a “break away” piece is incorporated where anyone can join and dance.

Quadrille is danced at major festivals and celebrations such as at the Maroon Festival and other cultural events in L’Esterre, Carriacou. Well known practitioners include Mr. Cosmos Bristol, Mrs. Marilyn Samerson, and Mrs. Kwame Hamilton. The Regatta Festival Board and the Maroon Festival Board both assist in its promotion and organization.

String Band musical instruments such as the violin, bass drums, tambourine and triangle provide the music for quadrilles. In the past, the dance had a formal dress code in which the men wore black pants, white shirts, and black bow ties, and the women wore black skirts and white shirts. Today, the costumes are brightly coloured and African inspired.

The quadrille is taught in the primary school.

Some of the challenges to the preservation and transmission of this practice include the fact that the first, second and third sets are no longer danced since they are not known to the instructor and that no live bands are available for practice sessions. The lack of documentation of the dance in previous years has meant a lack of knowledge of how the different sets are performed and some changes have been made to the movements. Some practitioners also mention a lack of willingness on the part of younger people to be taught the dance.

Practitioners believe that holding community events at which quadrille dancers perform and finding other avenues by which it could be passed on would help keep the tradition alive.

Anderson Matherson Group

Photo credit: Grenada Tourism Authority

Special recognition to people and communities in Carriacou. Thank you to the Living Heritage practitioners interviewed who are still keeping alive this ICH element as Tyrone Bethel, Randolph Harrison Fleary, Anderson Matherson, Anslem James, Alban Enoe-Stewart, and Evris Noel.

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“Grenada National Trust under the Proud of my Heritage project funded by UNESCO, does not assume any responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions and information in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness as the content and audio-visual materials were compiled from interviews done to specifics ICH practitioners and bearers around Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in 2022 who gave us their written consent during the pilot Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) inventorying exercises”

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