farandola

[Ital.; Fr. far an do ule.] A dance popular among the peasants of the south of France and the neighboring part of Italy. It is performed by men and women taking hands, and forming a long line, and winding in and out with a waving motion. The manner of taking hands is peculiar. The men and women are placed alternately, each man's right hand is held by a woman's right hand, and his left by the left hand of another woman, so that along the line, when seen from the front of the row, there is a woman's face and a man's back, and the reverse. The dance is sometimes made the means of fanning popular excitement. The figures of the Farandola, by the name of the Spanish Dance, were well known in English ballrooms thirty years since. ( Stainer & Barrett.)