Proceedings of the Known World Dance Symposium 2007

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Sessions

Symposium sessions

The Volta is a galliard variation in which the gentleman assists his partner to leap into the air while turning. It does not require Herculean strength from the gentleman - the lady supplies much of the lift, sometimes all of it. Reconstruction derives from the work of Dr. Ingrid Brainard and Sir Patri du Chat Gris. Energetic, ladies may wish to wear a corset or sports bra; will be easier for people who are already comfortable with basic galliard steps.

Dances included: the Volta

Meredith Courtney (Mara Kolarova)
Friday at 9:30 am (50 minutes, track A)

Where do the historical dances we enjoy come from? Come for an orientation to the period books and manuscripts that are our sources. Discover how completely (or incompletely) they describe the dances, and what additional material they contain.

Peter Durham (Trahaearn ap Ieuan)
Friday at 9:30 am (50 minutes, track B)

Commonly used late Italian dance steps and figures explained, using Contrapasso in Due (a walking dance) and Gracca Amorosa (a bouncy dance) as examples.

Dances included: Contrapasso in Due and Gracca Amorosa

Mary Peralta Railing (Uracca Yriarte de Gamboa, OL)
Friday at 10:30 am (80 minutes, track A)

This hands-on class for musicians and dance band leaders includes an overview of historical performance practice as well as offer practical solutions to common problems we face when playing for dancing. Some things we may cover include pre-1600 instruments, instrumentation, percussion patterns, music sources, and other accessible resources. Participants are encouraged to bring period instruments, both loud and soft and a music stand. Music will be provided.

Beth Gurzler (Deonna von Aachen)
Friday at 10:30 am (80 minutes, track B)

Burgundian bassedanses are easy dances that ought to be better known in the SCA than they are. We'll go though Le Moi de Mai, La Danse de Cleves, Beaulte de Castille, and Mara's crackpot theories about their esthetics and tempo.

Dances included: Le Moi de Mai, La Danse de Cleves, and Beaulte de Castille

Meredith Courtney (Mara Kolarova)
Friday at 1:30 pm (50 minutes, track A)

I'll teach four dances listed as "for as many as will" (though most really aren't) that each have a very different take on the type.

Dances included: An Old Man is a Bed Full of Bones, Mill-field, Paul's Wharfe, and Punks Delight

John White (Dafydd Cyhoeddwr)
Friday at 1:30 pm (110 minutes, track B)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the evening dance. Recorders will be the predominant instruments for this group of dances.

Dances included: Le Moi de Mai, Beaulte de Castille, Bransle Single, Bransle Double, Burgundian, Lorayne Alman, and New Alman

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Friday at 1:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

Will discuss background material from sources 12th-18th c.. Will also teach some probable Welsh dances from the SCA period, comparing with the same dances in modern Welsh country dance choreographies. Beginning-level; of interest to researchers in particular categories & to people creating Welsh personas.

Dances included: Lord of Carnarvan’s Jegg and Bishop of Bangor’s Jigg

Shari Peirce (Soelig Sweteglee)
Friday at 2:30 pm (50 minutes, track A)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the evening dance. Shawms will be the predominant instruments for this group of dances.

Dances included: Gioioso in tre, Bell Fiore, Leoncello Vecchio, Lauro, Petit Riense

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Friday at 2:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

As opposed to social dancing, dance performance at SCA events sometimes seems like it doesn't really fit in. A late Elizabethan or early Stuart masque is a dance performance (among other things) that fits in really well with a late period high court event, though it is a rather alien art form for a modern audience. This session will explain what a masque is, describe Carolingia's recent production of The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses, and talk about how you might do a masque of your own.

Meredith Courtney (Mara Kolarova)
Friday at 3:30 pm (50 minutes, track A)

What do you do when only 3 people show up at dance practice? This class focuses on dances for three, and is intended to go beyond mere steps to explore dynamics and subtleties of "style". Dances taught will include primarily 15th and16th C Italian.

Dances included: Petit Riense, Belfiore, Gioioso in Tre, Basse Beaulte de Castille, Esperans, Ballo del Fiore for 3, Bella Gioiosa, and the Galway Reel

Sara Bonneville (Sara de Bonneville)
Friday at 3:30 pm (110 minutes, track B)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the evening dance. Recorders and strings will be the predominant instruments for this group of dances.

Dances included: Contrapasso in Due, Gracca Amorosa, Ballo del Fiore for 3, Lord of Carnarvan's Jegg

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Friday at 3:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

New Renaissance dance sources are rare, so the discovery of a manuscript of Italian dance dated 1614 is a significant find. This class will mostly cover what's similar and what's different compared to the well-known 16th century books by Caroso and Negri.

Greg Lindahl (Gregory Blount )
Friday at 4:30 pm (50 minutes, track A)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the evening dance. A mixed set of instruments will be used for this group of dances.

Dances included: An Old Man is a Bed Full of Bones, Mill-field, Heart's Ease, Rufty Tufty, Gathering Peascods

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Friday at 4:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

This class covers reconstructing - taking period dances and turning them into something performable. Our goal to make an easy step-by-step process. We’ll look at facsimiles and translations and apply them to the dances of Renaissance Europe. You’ll learn to research but also walk away a better dancer and teacher.

Craig Shupeé (Philip White)
Saturday at 9:00 am (50 minutes, track A)

Bransles are some of the fairly simple dances we do in the SCA, and are an excellent introduction to proper styles of period dance (France, 1589). However, the real fun begins once they are danced together in a suite! This class will run through 5 bransles commonly danced together (Cassandra, Pinagay, Charlottle, War, Aridan), and some tips and pointers on how to play this game with musicians, and how to keep up.

Dances included: Cassandra, Pinagay, Charlotte, War, Aridan

David Learmonth (Darius the Dancer)
Saturday at 9:00 am (50 minutes, track B)

A class going over some of the basic galliards described in Arbeau, such as the pieds croises, travelling step, ruade croise, and others. More if time permits!

Dances included: Pieds croises, travelling step, ruade croise, and others

Francis Classe (Vyncent atte Wodegate)
Saturday at 9:00 am (50 minutes, track C)

This class is aimed at helping you to improve your teaching by using a variety of adult learning concepts and learner-centered teaching techniques to make your teaching fun, engaging, informative, easily understood, and memorable. The class is appropriate for brand new teachers, and dancemasters who have taught for years. Concepts taught will help you to teach anything better! (Whether it’s renaissance dance, or presentations at work). (note: if you attended this class at KWDS in Lochac, this session will continue with all the information we didn’t get to that day!)

Janelle Durham (Janelyn of Fenmere)
Saturday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track A)

Learn three out-of-the-ordinary 1st Edition ECDs for three couples, each of which has a quirk that sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill English Country Dance.

Dances included: The Whish. Kemp's Jegg, and Greenwood

John White (Dafydd Cyhoeddwr)
Saturday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track B)

A hands-on workshop on period techniques for ornamenting a simple melody. We'll concentrate on dance music (e.g. Arbeau, Playford, basse dance) but techniques are applicable to other forms too. Bring a melody instrument you play fluently.

Stephen Bloch (M. John Elys)
Saturday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track C)

A group discussion of what to do with a galliard (or other improvised dance) once you've learned some steps for it.

Meredith Courtney and Mary Peralta Railing (Mara Kolarova and Uracca Yriarte de Gamboa, OL)
Saturday at 11:30 am (50 minutes, track A)

This style of dance consists of only five types of steps. The first dance is simple, the other two are of only moderate complexity. Handouts will be provided. If you can walk and count to five, you can do this style of dance...

Dances included: Le moys de may, Castille la nouvelle, and La franchoise nouvelle

Rick Wallace (Yves de Fortanier)
Saturday at 11:30 am (50 minutes, track B)

We will be teaching some of our favourite four couple English Country dances from First Playford (1651). This session, open to all levels, is aimed at intermediate dancers who want to learn a few more intricate dances. Dance flow and enjoyment will be the focus of the session.

Dances included: Spanish Jepsies, Dargason and Double Dargason, If All The World Were Paper, New Castle, Faine I Would If I Could

Kathryn Bose and Brian Frasier (Tessa di Aquila and Brion Glefelagh )
Saturday at 11:30 am (80 minutes, track C)

Come and learn this beautiful balletto for one couple from M.F. Caroso’s Nobiltà di Dame, 1600. One of the more complex dances in the repertoire, this choreography contains a variety of virtuoso passages sure to dazzle the audience. The dance commences with an introductory passeggio, followed by a gagliarda, saltarello and canario

Dances included: Celeste Giglio

Anna Mansbridge (Seattle Early Dance)
Saturday at 1:30 pm (110 minutes, track A)

A music Laurel made me do it! Having been asked to help select songs for a CD of English Country Dance music, I was reminded of all the dances with fun figures and interesting choruses that we seldom dance in An Tir. I've selected several of my favorites, all from Playford's 1st edition (circa1651). Beginning with a brief overview of source and social context, the intended focus of this class is more on learning specific dances than theory.

Dances included: Row Well Ye Marriners, Millisons Jegg, Old Mole, The Whirligig, Saint Martins, Dull Sir John

Sara Bonneville (Sara de Bonneville)
Saturday at 1:30 pm (110 minutes, track B)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the Saturday evening dance.

Dances included: Pavan, Galliard, Pease Branle, Horses Branle, Washerwomen's Branle, Hermits Branle

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Saturday at 1:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the Saturday evening dance.

Dances included: Cassandra, Pinagay, Charlotte, War, Amoroso, Rostiboli Gioisio, Aridan, Queens Alman, Black Alman

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Saturday at 2:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

A 2 hour intensive Il Canario class, based on the work of Livio Lupi da Caravaggio. It will be about building an improvised Il Canario from the basic structure up to a full improvisation, including reconstruction time and dancing time. For experienced dancers only, and space is limited; please sign up at the beginning of the event. You should be relatively fit to attempt this; if you can't do most 16th C Italian dance steps quickly and easily this won't be for you.

Dances included: Il Canario

D Elson (Delbert von Straßburg)
Saturday at 3:30 pm (110 minutes, track A)

An exploration of possible reconstructions of the Gresley Manuscript Dances. In this class we begin with a 20-minute video of selected dances performed at Haddon Hall, music by Bedford Waits, commentary by Dr. Jennifer Nevile & Dr. David Fallows, and a brief summary of what is known about the manuscript; next, we will practice the steps and perform at least 2 of the dances, more as time permits.

Dances included: Pernes en Gre, Ly Bens Distonys, and Talbott

Marie Morrison (Fionnabhair inghean Donnchaidh Guthrie )
Saturday at 3:30 pm (110 minutes, track B)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the Saturday evening dance.

Dances included: La Francoise Nouvelle, Ly Bens Distonys, Pernes en Gre, Ballo del Fiore, La Castellana, Il Canario

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Saturday at 3:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

This time and space is set aside for musicians to practice for the Saturday evening dance.

Dances included: Upon a Summer's Day, Jenny Pluck Pears, If all the World Were Paper, Newcastle, Old Mole, Whirligig

Pat Reed (Jorunn Steinnabrjotr)
Saturday at 4:30 pm (50 minutes, track C)

So you think you can dance? Come see if you're up to the challenge of adapting to changes in the music.

Dances included: TBA

Kathy Van Stone (Elsbeth Anne Roth)
Sunday at 9:00 am (50 minutes, track A)

Come learn Mercanzia and Sobria, two 15th century Italian dances full of drama as only the Italians can do, with flirting, indignation, and faithfulness. A familiarity with the steps is preferred.

Dances included: Mercanzia and Sobria

Carey Cates (Isabel D Triana)
Sunday at 9:00 am (50 or 80 minutes, track B)

Rest your feet while you preview a variety of instructional historical dance videos to see which you might want to add to your collection.

Janelle Durham (Janelyn of Fenmere)
Sunday at 9:00 am (50 minutes, track C)

Reconstruction of Arbeau's basse dance "Jouissance vous donnerai", making a case for step reconstructions by going back to 15th C Burgundian Basse Dance and tracing possible similarities and connections with 15th C Italian Bassadanza, and later 16th C Italian dance. The four dances taught are intended to be illustrative of how steps may have changed over this time period.

Dances included: Basse La Dame, Basse La Francois Nouvelle, a 15thC Italian Bassadanza, a 16th C Italian dance, and Jouissance vous donnerai

Sara Bonneville (Sara de Bonneville)
Sunday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track A)

Three (or more) four-couple 1st Edition ECDs that don't get much floor time, at least where I live.

Dances included: Aye Me (the Symphony), Lord of Caernarvon's Jig, and Prince Rupert's March

John White (Dafydd Cyhoeddwr)
Sunday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track B)

You traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to KWDS so you could learn a specific dance, and now the event is almost over, and you haven't learned it yet. This is your last chance!

Dances included: You get to choose

D Elson (Delbert von Straßburg)
Sunday at 10:00 am (80 minutes, track C)

 

 

Day of Dance sessions

These sessions on Saturday afternoon from 1:30 to 5:30 are designed for beginners as an introduction to the major categories of historical dance up through 1651.

Dances included: Improvised pavan and galliard

Francis Classe (Vyncent atte Wodegate)
Saturday at 1:30 pm

Dances included: Pease, Horses, Washerwomen, and Hermits Branles

David Learmonth (Darius the Dancer)
Saturday at 2:10 pm

Dances included: Amoroso and Rostiboli Gioioso

Carey Cates (Isabel D Triana)
Saturday at 2:50 pm

Dances included: Ballo del Fiore and La Castellana

Anniki Raiford (Adele Desfontaines)
Saturday at 3:30 pm

Dances included: Queen's Alman and Black Alman

Charlene Charette (Perronnelle Charrette de la Tourdu Pin)
Saturday at 4:10 pm

Dances included: Jenny Pluck Pears and Upon a Summer's Day

John White (Dafydd Cyhoeddwr)
Saturday at 4:50 pm