Both men and women would receive a dance card early in the evening and when a man asked a woman to dance he would pencil his name in next to the title of the dance he wanted to share with her.
He would then pencil her name into his dance card next to the same dance.Feb 1, 2016.
A dance card or programme du bal (also known by its German-language name, Tanzkarte) is used by a woman to record the names of the men with whom she intends to dance each successive dance at a formal ball..
Dance cards listed the specific dances to be performed and provided lines for ladies to fill in the names of their dance partners.
In many instances dance cards and programs were designed in such a way as to make them valuable in their own right, as a souvenir of the evening..
In modern times the expression "dance card" is often used metaphorically, as when someone says "pencil me into your dance card," meaning "find some time to spend with me".
Conversely, claiming one's "dance card is full" implies that even though they may be interested, they have no time for another person..
Dance cards listed the specific dances to be performed and provided lines for ladies to fill in the names of the gentlemen with whom she intended to dance each successive dance with.
Dance cards and programs were typically designed to be valuable keepsakes..
What is a dance card? A dance card or ballspende, is a card, often decorative, that is used by an attending woman to record with whom she will dance at formal dances and balls..
Dance cards gained popularity at balls and assemblies sometime during the 1830s, during Queen Victoria's reign.
Each dance card was is different.
Many of the ones I've seen in private collections had elaborate covers made from precious metals and jewels like silver, ivory or mother of pearl, bone ivory, tortoise shell..
Dance cards appear to have originated in the 18th century, but their use first became widespread in 19th-century Vienna
In modern times the expression "dance card" is often used metaphorically, as when someone says "pencil me into your dance card
U.S. Air Force aircrews in general, and those involved in flight tests in particular
• Dance card cover depicting 1884 U.S
• Examples of dance cards from the 19th century at The Aroostook County Historical and Art
