The Palais Glide

(London, 1935)

Contemporary Description

Dating back to the mid-1930s, the Palais Glide is an English sequence dance performed in lines of couples — an early, swing-era "line dance" of sorts.

The Formation

Danced in lines (of couples or dancers), as illustrated above, with arms linked behind, facing LOD around the room.

The Figure

All dancers start with the left foot.

1: Point left heel forward diagonally to the center of the room, without weight.

2: Cross left foot behind right.

and: Step side right.

3: Cross left foot in front of right.

4: Point right heel forward diagonally to the outside wall, without weight.

5: Cross right foot behind left.

and: Step side left.

6: Cross right foot in front of left.

7: Point left heel forward diagonally to the center of the room, without weight.

8: Cross left foot behind right.

and: Step side right.

1: Cross left foot in front of right.

2: Cross right foot in front of left.

3: Cross left foot in front of right.

4: Cross right foot in front of left.

5: Step forward with left foot, leaning forward slightly.

6: Swing right foot forward from rear.

7: Step forward with right foot.

and: Step forward with left foot.

8: Step forward with right foot.

Repeat from the beginning, gradually traveling around the room.

Here's newsreel footage from 1938, showing dancers at the Locarno Dance Hall dancing the Palais Glide:

Here's another video, and a picture of (an exaggerated version of) the lean forward.

The Music

Many different songs were recommended for the Palais Glide, and pretty much anything in 4/4 time with eight bar phrases will do.

The Original Palais Glide (1935) gives a medley of The Palais Glide, Little Brown Jug, and Waiting at the Church, providing these lyrics:

Learn to do the Palais Glide
All together side by side.
It's as easy as can be,
All you've got to do is take your step from me!
So come and do the Palais Glide,
You'll be happy when you've tried;
Once you start you'll want to go on forever
Swaying in the Palais Glide!

The Original Palais Glide (1938) gives a nine-song medley "Poor Little Angeline," "Rusty and Dusty," "Old Folks at Home," "The Sunset Trail," "Loch Lomond," "Pop Goes the Weasel," "The Miller's Daughter Marianne," "Il Trovatore," and "Ten Pretty Girls."

Sheet music for "When Granny Wore Her Crinoline" (1938) proclaims it to be "the most popular of all Palais Glides."

Taylor's Old Time and Novelty Dances (1944/1947) recommends "The Policeman's Holiday," while noting that "many others are available."

Sources

D. T. Foster. (1935). The Palais Glide. London.
Cecil H. Taylor. (1947). Old Time and Novelty Dances. London.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Powers and Susan de Guardiola, whose own detailed descriptions and teachings of the Palais Glide I have drawn from in creating this page.

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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