Classes

There are 39 classes.

15th Century Italian Dance: Introductory Social Repertoire

Yes, they had fun in period. Mistress Rosina will take her class through the fast and furious, the sensual and seductive, and the inevitable figure dances that were popular in the Italian courts (what better way to court Italians?)

15th Century Italian Dance: So, You Think You're Ready For a Challenge, Eh?

Now you have the social dances down, it's time to move on to the really impressive dances. Mistress Rosina keeps wandering around mutter something about "Tesara", but we're not quite sure what this class will cover yet.

15th Century Italian Dances: Another Tradition 15th Century Italian Dances: Another Tradition

Three 15th Century Italian dances (Lauro, Reale and Leoncello Vecchio), based on reconstructions done by Dr. Ingrid Brainard. These steps look somewhat different from those spreading through the Society in recent years.

Advanced English Country Dance

Two of the more challenging country dances from Playford's English Dancing Master, first edition: Parson's Farewell and Whirligig.

An Introduction to the Galliard

  • Master Gregory Blunt
  • Room 3 on Sunday at 9:00AM to 10:30AM
  • Beginner

The Galliard is an athletic 16th Century dance form, quite easy to learn. This class will cover the most basic Galliad steps, and the instructor will demonstrate exotic stuff such as tassel-kicks and LaVolta.

Arbeau's Bransles

This class will cover a variety of bransles from Arbeau's Orchesographie. SCA variants of the dances and reconstruction issues will also be discussed.

Beginning Middle Eastern Dance

  • Morgan McBride
  • Room 1 on Saturday at 10:00AM to 11:00AM
  • Beginner

This is a basic movement and step class and will concentrate on isolating the movements and the doing combinations.

Beginning Veil

  • Morgan McBride
  • Room 1 on Saturday at 1:00PM to 2:00PM
  • Beginner

The veil adds a lovely, sensual element to the dance. Different moves will be taught and demonstrated. Beginning dancers welcome. Bring a veil, if you have one--some will be available for use in class.

Beginning/Intermediate Middle Eastern Dance

A class in basic movement, isolation of movement and steps, done to a variety of music. If time allows, a short dance will also be taught.

Beginning/Intermediate Middle Eastern Drumming Beginning/Intermediate Middle Eastern Drumming

  • Cormac O'Bron
  • Room 2 on Saturday at 9:00AM to 12:00PM
  • Beginner

Learning the rhythms and playing as a group.

Dances from Il Papa

This class will cover several dances from the Il Papa Ms. There will also be a brief introduction to the manuscript and some discussion of why we made the choices we did for these reconstructions.

English Country Dance: Three Couple Sets

  • Dafydd Arth
  • Gym on Saturday at 4:00PM to 5:30PM
  • Intermediate

Three couple sets became immensely popular in the 18th Century, but the 17th Century had its own three couple set. This class will teach Mayden Lane, The Black Nag, Upon a Summer's Day and Grimstock.

Further Middle Eastern Drum Techniques

  • Cormac O'Bron
  • Room 2 on Saturday at 1:00PM to 4:00PM

More rhythm and techniques. This class will be geared to the level of the musicians present.

Guedra Drum Class

  • Cormac O'Bron
  • Room 1 on Saturday at 4:00PM to 5:30PM

A class on playing the drum for the guedra trance dance.

Guedra Trance Dance

  • Morgan McBride
  • Room 2 on Saturday at 4:00PM to 5:30PM

This dance was done by women of the Tuareg in Northern Aftica. It is a ritualistic dance whose purpose is to achieve a trance-like state by means of repetitive moves and controlled breathing. (Er, we could really use drummers, chanters and dancers--men are welcome to drum and chant.)

Il Canario

  • Delbert von Strassburg
  • Room 3 on Saturday at 9:00AM to 12:00PM
  • Advanced

Thoinot Arbeau called the Canary "strange and fantastic with a strong barbaric flavour." It was one of the more popular dances in the late 16th Century. This class will teach the version recorded by the ever flashy Cesare Negri.

Intermediate Middle Eastern Dance

Intermediate Middle Eastern Dance

Japanese Court Dance

  • Solveig Throndardottir
  • Room 4 on Saturday at 4:00PM to 5:30PM
  • Intermediate

There are other courtly traditions of dance in the world which often parallel Western European court dance, but which have different historical backgrounds. Japanese court dance is one of these. If you are interested in things Japanese, you will find something of interest in this style of dancing.

Kick the Tassel

  • Lord Daniele di Padola
  • Room 3 on Sunday at 10:30AM to 12:00PM
  • Intermediate

Do you think of gravity as ''just some silly rule others need to follow''? Do you think that practicing point control with your hands is much too easy? Come learn how the Italians dealt with such problems.

Laura Gentile

  • Lizbeth Ravensholm
  • Gym on Friday at 5:00PM to 6:30PM
  • Intermediate

This charming dance for one couple is unique among Negri's dances because there are no identifiable gagliarda step-units in the gagliarda section.

Leggiadra Marina

  • Lizbeth Ravensholm
  • Room 3 on Saturday at 2:30PM to 4:00PM
  • Intermediate

A complex dance for two people from Cesare Negri's Le Gratie d'Amore. The dance, with interesting floor patterns, is a suite that changes tempo several times. A satisfying challenge for mind and feet.

Line Dance

Teaches a short choreography.

Mannerism in Sixteenth Century Court Dance

  • Isaac de Hugo
  • Conference Room on Saturday at 1:00PM to 2:30PM

Court dancing of the late 16th century incorporate many of the standard aesthetic principles of the period. These principles become most apparent in the choreography, patterns and footwork of the dances. An understanding of these principles can offer us useful tools for reconstructing and performing the dances.

Mistress Lizbeth Holds Forth

Since she's on this side of the Rockies for a change, take advantage of the situation. Mistress Lizbeth stands ready to discuss whatever aspect of dance you want to talk about.

Morris Dancing

  • Phelan ab Emrys
  • Room 3 on Friday at 5:00PM to 6:30PM
  • Beginner

Explore the world of Morris dancing. After a brief orientation to what Morris is, Phelan will discuss its evolution during the SCA period and from what roots it might have sprung. If there is sufficient interest, Phelan will arrange for additional time to teach a traditional Morris dance.

Negri's Squares for Four

This class will teach three of Negri's verse/chorus dances with no tempo changes: Bizzaria d'Amore, Lo Spangoletto, Il Villanicco.

No Longer in the Repertoire Dances

Yes, we were dancing twenty years ago and thought we were really hot stuff. But many of the dances of the early 80's Midrealm repertoire have fallen away and been forgotten--until this morning. Rashid, this one's for you.

Peasant Dances

  • Silvija the Landlady
  • Room 4 on Saturday at 10:30AM to 12:00PM
  • Beginner

What do the Simple Folk do? This class will examine and learn dances from several folk traditions in Europe and consider the question of the place of folk dance in the SCA.

Reconstructing from Il Ballarino

Caroso's 1580 dance manual, Il Ballarino, is a rich source of 16th Century Italian dances, many of which have not been reconstructed. Reconstructing many dances is not hard, and we will prove it by starting with the Italian and English translation of a dance and reconstructing it.

Rennaissance German Dances

  • Johann von Metten
  • Room 4 on Saturday at 2:30PM to 4:00PM
  • Intermediate

Three dances from Germany/Hungary: Familia Waltzer, Rheinlandler/Bayerischer, and Hunnrischer Marsche.

Round Table Discussion of the Gresley MS

In 1995 a manuscript source was discovered which sheds light on a previously unknown genre of perid dance. It is the Gresley Dance and includes 91 dance titles, 26 detailed choreographies and 13 dance melodies. This round table discussion is a chance for anyone who is interested in the manuscript to come together and discuss what we have learned through examining it.

Running a Ball Round Table

What works and what doesn't and why for SCA balls, especially a non-Caroso one.

Sampling of Folkloric Line Dances

  • Morgan McBride
  • Room 1 on Saturday at 3:00PM to 4:00PM

Anyone who has ever danced a bransle has danced a Middle Eastern line dance. Come and learn several different types. These are group dances done for family celebrations. No partners necessary. Both women and men welcome.

Teaching Techniques for Dancemasters

Ideas for teaching dance more effectively in the Society. If you would like to introduce harder dances to your group, displace out-of-period dances with reconstructions, or increase attendance at your dance practice, I have suggestions.

The Old Measures: Dances from the Inns of Court, London, 1570-1675

This class will focus on the Old Measures, a standard curriculum of dances taught to and performed by members of the upper middle class in Elizabethan England.

The Volta

The Volta is a 16th-century dance, considered by some a bit scandalous since the gentlman in each couple must draw his partner close in order to assist her to leap high in the air. Very energetic, requires jumping.

Vikings DO TOO Dance!

  • Tsivia bas Tamara
  • Room 4 on Saturday at 1:00PM to 2:30PM
  • Beginner

Original research done by Countess Brynhildr Kormaksdottir, O.L. and Baroness TSivia bas Tamara v'Amberview, O.L., debunks the old saw about the Norse not dancing. Participants learn line, ring, and processional dancing, along with some documentation of the forms and music used.

What Do We Know about Medieval Dance?

In the absence of choreographies, what can be said about medieval, not renaissance, dance? My take on what can be gleaned from literature, iconography, etc.

Zills

You know, zills.