Talk:Dance card

Ballspende

I think it should be checked if the translation of dance card is really Ballspende. There exists a term Tanzkarte in German which is exactly a word by word translation of the English term. Moreover, the Tanzkarte which I mean and which is in fact a card, is used for exactly that what is explained in the article: Marking what dance a woman has reserved for which gentleman. A Ballspende is what you see on the referenced webpage. Some gifts woman get from the organizer of a ball. Sweets, parfumes, ... things you can hardly write on. I am no expert but I am in doubt about this translation, although the website says dance card and Ballspende are equivalent. --Roland2 18:41, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

I think you are roughly correct on Ballspende: it refers to something more elaborate, though I believe that (at least in the heyday of ballroom dancing) it would always have included a dance card. I threw this together quickly because someone had requested an article on the topic; it's a topic where I'm clueful, but not expert. Some actual research would be great. -- Jmabel | Talk 00:10, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

Your theory seems to be generallly supported by the last link below. If I can help with German, just tell me. There is also the meaning "Tanzkarte" for "ticket" which I would call a "Ballkarte". --Roland2 00:54, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

As a native speaker of German and experienced ballroom dancer living in Vienna I can tell you that "dance card" is in fact not the equivalent of "Ballspende" as Roland2 suspected, but a gift for the female ball visitors as described by Jmabel. A century ago, when dance cards were still in use, a Ballspende was some kind of accessory for holding or keeping the card, hence the link that was construed between the two. M-A-Z

Sources from Google for "Tanzkarte"

• http://www.wer-weiss-was.de/theme94/article2279813.html Diese Karten werden an Männlein und Weiblein ausgeteilt. Which means: The cards are given to men and women.

• http://www.dict.cc/deutsch-englisch/Tanzkarte.html

• http://www.ucr-ev.de/Anfahrt/INFO-AblaufDinner1859.htm Ablauf einer Dinner-Party 1859 Which means: Progress of events (?) at a dinner party in 1859 -- Vor dem Betreten des Ballsaals erhielten alle Damen eine Tanzkarte und alle Herren einen Schreibstift Which means: At the entrance of the dancing hall all ladies got a Tanzkarte and all gentlemen a pencil

• http://www.faechersammlung.de/Bilderseiten/Bilderseite20frueh/Bildseite183.htm

• http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/index.html?/datenbank/9900/99005984.html

• http://www.fastbot.de/dict/index.php?s=dict&query=Tanzkarte

• http://www.freebid.de/active_auction.php?listingid=103825&acid=109

• http://www.oeaz.at/zeitung/3aktuell/2004/03/haupt/haupt03_2004diet.html The best link, I think. Explains Tanzkarte/Damenspende/Ballspende. The source seems to be serious.

• http://www.heimatzunft.de/hp/hp3_2003/walzer3_2003.html Picture of a dance card, cover and interior (scroll down the page).

Gender

Recently added, recently cut (bolded) "used by a woman, and, according to certain sources, a man": I've never heard of a ball where a man had a dance card, except recently in gay circles, which might merit a mention, but only a contextualized mention. "Some sources" is impossibly vague. Do you have a citation? -- Jmabel | Talk 00:10, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

No, I was not making a reference to such circles. A citation could come from a facsimile reproduction of an 1897 book entitled "Manners for Men" by one Mrs Humphry, in which a chapter deals with attending a ball, and refers to the "well-bred man" as having a dance card and, for instance, filling it before very long (bold mine). Indeed, I have attended balls where both gentleman and lady received a dance card to fill. Andrew Spinner 12:47, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

Follow-up: Located an online reference - [1]. Andrew Spinner 12:51, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

I believe you, but the page you link to appears to be only excerpts, and this excerpt is not there. Could you possibly make the change in the article and write up the citation? -- Jmabel | Talk 06:18, 16 January 2006 (UTC)

I am a heterosexual male who has had dance cards. Mine typically have phone numbers of the partners that I have danced with. Tom | Talk 06:18, 20 January 2023 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 23.122.176.75 (talk)

Dance card = Tanzkarte

Look here: LEO. --Thetawave 20:59, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

Which wrist??

I am doing research for a play set in 1860's New England. Does anyone know if there is a tradition regarding which wrist the dance card was placed on? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.178.9.20 (talk) 18:57, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

The Lady's dance card goes on her right arm as her left is typically close in on waltzes. 23.122.176.75 (talk) 22:42, 20 January 2023 (UTC)