h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a strange topic, I know, but I've read lots of classical literature and wondered what on earth these people were actually doing.


My history book claims that the waltz was considered very risque because it employed the promiscuous business of a man and woman dancing face to face. So how did they dance before that?


In Jane Austen they keep talking about stag lines and lining up to dance. What dance do you "line up" to dance?


I've read that the minuet is a full-floor dance so only one couple can dance it at a time. This gives an extra dimension to the fact that at his inaugerational ball, George Washington danced with every single woman present. Did anyone else get a chance? Did he ever get a break?


In Victorian-era dancing, they "cut in". What dance is this, and how obnoxious is that?


Finally, I've heard that most of the old dances (minuet, waltz, etc) were originally peasant dances that became very stylish. Like huh?


Anyone curious enough to find out about this stuff?

> "Anyone curious enough to find out about this stuff?"

I'm fairly proficient already.

How about, er, taking fingers to keyboard about it?

I have my own website.

Soooo... you're saying what, why?