Brewer's: Ringleader

The person who opens a ball or leads off a dance (see Hollyband's Dictionary, 1593). The dance referred to was commenced by the party taking hands round in a ring, instead of in two lines as in the country dance. The leader in both cases has to set the figures. One who organises and leads a party.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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