Dance card for senior reception 1900, Sarah (Sallie) M. Field, Abbot Academy, class of 1904

A dance card is a small booklet or card that was used in the past to keep track of the order of dances at a social event, such as a ball. It typically had a decorative cover and contained a list of the dances that would be performed during the evening, along with spaces for the names of the dancers who would be participating in each dance. During the event, a gentleman would ask a lady to dance and write his name on her dance card for the specific dance. This helped to ensure that each dancer had a partner for each dance and that no one was left out. The dance card was also a keepsake for the event, as it often featured the name and date of the event, as well as the names of the musicians and any special guests. Although dance cards are not commonly used today, they remain a charming reminder of a bygone era of elegant social events and ballroom dancing.