Some of our longways dances come from around Jane Austins time.
At the balls you wouldn't need a caller because the first couple danced a figure of their choice with the second couple while all the rest were watching admiringly, or still finding a partner. Then the 1s danced with 3s, next 1s and 4s / 2s and 3s danced the figure, and so on till everyone was dancing.
Books of dances for the year .... were published, which now give great fun to dance interpreters, trying to decode them.