This easy combination of Galop and Polka is a fun way to add some variety to your Polka.
It was likely introduced around 1857, as the first known description was in Hillgrove's 1857 Scholar's Companion [TH57]. Eleven years later, Beadle's Dime Ball-Room Companion (1868) noted that the Esmeralda had "become almost obsolete in fashionable circles, so that a description is not essential" [BC68].
Given that the names of many dance variations at the time were taken from opera, the name likely comes from the title character of Louise Bertin's La Esmeralda (1836), though it's also possible that it could be from the character Esmeralda in Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831).
The Position
Waltz position throughout.
The Dance
Four-Slide Galop, turning on the fourth slide (1-and-2-and-3-and-4), then one full turn of Polka (5-and-6, 7-and-8), turning a total of 540°.
In other words, "slide-and-slide-and-slide-and-turn, slide-and-turn, slide-and-turn."
Repeat opposite, dancing it over the elbows to complete a total of three turns in 16 counts.
Note: Several sources use the name Esmeralda (or Three-Slide Polka) for a basic Four-Slide Galop [e.g., AD85, MW99], with one author noting that what everyone else calls the Esmeralda is "a pleasant way of varying this dance" [AD85].
The Music
Polka music.
One source specifies 104 bpm for the tempo [AD85], while another specifies 116 bpm [WL03]
Several sources [EF59 and EH68] provide music specifically for the dance.
Sources
TH57 — Thomas Hillgrove. (1857). The Scholar's Companion & Ball-Room Vade-Mecum. New York.
See Original Description
TH58 — Thomas Hillgrove. (1858). Hillgrove's Scholar's Companion and Ball-Room Guide. New York.
See Original Description
EF59 — Edward Ferrero. (1859). The Art of Dancing, Historically Illustrated. New York.
See Original Description
EH62 — Elias Howe. (1862). American Dancing Master, and Ball-Room Prompter. Boston.
See Original Description
TH63 — Thomas Hillgrove. (1863). A Complete Practical Guide to the Art of Dancing. New York.
See Original Description
EH66 — Elias Howe. (1866). American Dancing Master, and Ball-Room Prompter. Boston.
See Original Description
LB67 — Laurence De Garmo Brookes. (1867). Brookes on Modern Dancing. New York.
See Original Description
BC68 — Beadle and Company (pub.). (1868). Beadle's Dime Ball-Room Companion and Guide to Dancing. New York.
See Original Description
TH68 — Thomas Hillgrove. (1868). A Complete Practical Guide to the Art of Dancing. New York.
See Original Description
EH68 — Elias Howe. (1868). The Pianist's Matinee. Boston.
See Original Description
DS69 — D. Spencer. (1869). Spencer's Terpsichorean Monitor. Peoria, IL.
See Original Description
ER70 — E. B. Reilley. (1870). The Amateur's Vademecum. Philadelphia.
See Original Description
WW71 — Wm. Warwick (pub.). (1871). Canadian Ten Cent Ball-Room Companion and Guide to Dancing. Toronto.
See Original Description
TS78 — Tousey & Small (pub.). (1878). How To Dance, A Complete Ball-Room & Party Guide. New York.
See Original Description
CB79 — Cartier & Baron. (1879). Cartier and Baron's Practical Illustrated Waltz Instructor, Ball Room Guide, and Call Book. New York.
See Original Description
AD85 — Allen Dodworth. (1885). Dancing and Its Relations to Education and Social Life. New York.
See Original Description
AD88 — Allen Dodworth. (1888). Dancing and Its Relations to Education and Social Life (New and Enlarged Edition). New York.
See Original Description
MG90 — M. B. Gilbert. (1890). Round Dancing. Portland, ME.
See Original Description
MW99 — Marguerite Wilson. (1899). Dancing, A Complete Guide to all Dances. Philadelphia.
See Original Description
AD00 — Allen Dodworth, T. George Dodworth. (1900). Dancing and Its Relations to Education and Social Life (New and Enlarged Edition). New York.
See Original Description
WL03 — Washington Lopp. (1903). La Danse. Paris.
See Original Description
AN03 — Albert W. Newman. (1903). A Complete Practical Guide to Modern Society Dancing. Philadelphia.
See Original Description
AD05 — Allen Dodworth, T. George Dodworth. (1905). Dancing and Its Relations to Education and Social Life (New and Enlarged Edition). New York.
See Original Description
AD13 — Allen Dodworth, T. George Dodworth. (1913). Dancing and Its Relations to Education and Social Life (New and Enlarged Edition). New York.
