Classes

There are 38 classes.

13th-14th Century Dance

  • Crispin Sexi
  • Library on Sunday at 10:00AM to 11:00AM

A presentation of evidence about 13th and 14th century dancing from a variety of sources, including music, literature and art.

15th Century Dances - Another Tradition

Dance reconstruction is not an exact science - different interpretations of steps and dances are possible. If you've done 15th-c Italian dances in only one style (and didn't learn them in the Barony of Carolingia or from a related tradition), come and get acquainted with reconstructions based on the work of the late Dr. Ingrid Brainard. We'll dance through Lauro and Leoncello Vecchio, possibly one other dance if time permits.

1st Edition Playford Dance Language

There are always many problems encountered when reconstructing 1st edition Playford dances. Many of the problems are to do with understanding elements that appear to be peculiar to the particular dance in hand e.g. how do we do the arches in Newcastle, how do we progress in Dargeson etc. Other problems are to do with understanding elements that appear to be common to the dances (e.g. how do we step, how do we side?)

3 couple English Country Dances

Less well-known 3 couple ECDs like Dissembling Love, Millison's Jig, Night Peece, Shepherd's Holyday, and Woodicock.

3 new Pavan Sequences

For those who want more possible ways to enjoy beautiful pavan tunes, here are 3 dance sequences that will work to most pavans.

4 Couple English Country Dances

Less well-known 4 couple ECDs like Fine Companion, Gray's Inn Masque, Lull Me Beyond Thee, Mage on a Cree, etc.

A Passage of Arms

A Passage of Arms for Rapier and Broadsword (Fencing and Heavy fighting) to be held to commemorate the Known World Dance Symposium and Bal d'Argent. Format: Challenges for Rapier, Broadsword and shield, great axe, and any other suitable combination. Come fight over the barrier, in the field, melee, whatever you please!

Ballo del Fiore for 2, 3, or for 4 or 5

  • Joanna
  • McDonald Wing on Sunday at 4:00PM to 6:00PM

Caroso has three different dances titled Ballo del Fiore - the two, one for 2 dancers at a time and one for 3 at a time, from Il Ballarino and the one for 4 or 5 dancers at a time from Nobilta di Dame. This class covers the three dances, their similarities and differences, some matters relating to steps and also ways of adapting the 3 and the 4 or 5 person versions for SCA use.

Barriera

I spent a while a few years ago comparing the various Barriera choreographies that Caroso wrote (and preparing the one for a couple in Nobilta for a preformance), so that was the first thing I translated from Santucci. I've got as far with the Santucci as working out that it goes well to Carsoso's music, and getting parts 1-7 danceable. I'd really like to either teach one of the versions (perhaps Santucci's, as it's so new), or try a talking/discussing session to compare all of them (the four from Caroso, 2 from Negri, one from Santucci, and one extra).

Beginners' English Country Dance

  • Miriam Galbraith
  • McDonald Wing on Saturday at 11:00AM to 12:00PM

A few simple English Country Dances for the Bal d'Argent

Bransles for Everyone

  • Brian Pinch
  • Library on Saturday at 2:00PM to 3:00PM

Learn a few bransles for Bal d'Argent.

Burgundian Basse Danses

15th-century Burgundian bassedanses are generally underrepresented in SCA ball playlists. This is a pity, because they are elegant dances that are fairly easy to do. We'll dance through one 'regular' bassedanse, Casulle la Nouvelle, and (probably) two irregular ones, Beaulte de Castille and la Francoise Nouvelle. We'll also talk a bit about the source treatises, some alternatives in the reconstruction, and the extravagant court culture these dances came from.

Cascarde from Caroso

Caroso's cascarde are fun couple dances, perfect for showing off or flirting. This class will cover two cascarde popular in the SCA: Gracca Amorosa from Il Ballarino, and Spagnoletta Regolata from Nobilta di Dame. This class is for those who have at least some familiarity with 16th century Italian dance steps.

Dance Band Practice

  • Finn
  • Octagon on Saturday at 4:00PM to 6:00PM

Band practice for the Bal d'Argent

Dance Band Practice

  • Finn
  • Octagon on Sunday at 4:00PM to 6:00PM

Band practice for the Sunday evening dance.

Dance Band Practice

  • Finn
  • McDonald Wing on Monday at 4:00PM to 5:00PM

Band practice for the Monday evening dance.

Drumming for a Dance Band

  • Rodrigo
  • Octagon on Saturday at 3:00PM to 4:00PM

Introduction to drumming techniques.

Event Registration

Event registration, paperwork, etc.

Gentilezza d'Amore

The instructor's own reconstruction of Gentilezza d'Amore, a five verse dance from Il Ballarino, will be taught.

Health and Fitness for Dancers, Fighters, and other Slackers

Some basic tips to keep in shape -- stretches, cardio, fitness routines, and diet.

How to Teach Dance (or anything else!)

This class covers: different learning styles (kinesthetic/visual/auditory, analytic vs. global, etc.); ways to increase retention; sequencing: the idea of starting with an easier concept, and then building on that; plus spiraling: coming back to the familiar to re-integrate the knowledge before adding in new challenges; characteristics of learners; developing objectives (is goal participation? performance? maximum variety? depth of knowledge of one genre); The class is part theory, and part hands-on (feet-on) practice.

Il Canario and Galliards from Lupi

A workshop looking at the variations of Il Canario and the Galliard presented by Livio Lupi da Caravaggio, one of the less explored 16th C dance masters.

Jamming with Mr Susato

Unfortunately Mr. Susato was unable to join us but he did send along lots of music. This is an opportunity to relax and just play. Feel free to bring along any other period music you find interesting.

Keeping a dance band happy

  • Finn
  • Octagon on Sunday at 10:00AM to 11:00AM

This class is designed to give an overview of how to keep dance bands happy at events. It will offer some tips for event stewards, dancers, musicians and heralds and will cover points such as organisation, communication, offering advice/feedback and etiquette. Dicussion on how to educate Stewards, dancers, musicians and heralds will follow as well as sharing of experiences and ideas. This paper is mainly designed for dance bands, but it might also be helpful for other performing artists at events.

La Castellana and Chiara Stella

Thank you, Caroso, for giving us cascarde, for cascarde are wonderful things! One of the easiest of the cute cascarde will be taught: Maestro Etienne de Clermont's reconstruction of La Castellana from Il Ballarino. This simple, three verse dance with a repeating chorus introduces beginners to some of the step sequences frequently seen in cascarde. Chiara Stella, a competition dance for the Bal d'Argent will also be taught.

La Spagna and Ly Bens Distonys

Learn Ly Bens Distonys and La Spagna, two of the competition dances for Bal d'Argent.

La Volta and La Nizzarda

Class size - max. 5 couples, others welcome to watch and discuss. La Volte and La Nizzarda are both described in late 16th C dance sources as improvised dances for couples, involving turns and jumps in which the man lifts the woman. They are said to come from Provence, Piedmont (next to Provence) or Nice (alternately in Provence and Piedmont). They are both danced to galliard-like music.

Les Bouffons

A sword dance for four from Arbeau's Orchesography, suitable to be performed as a masque. If possible, I'll show a film of a group of eight performing a choreography (not Arbeau's) that includes all six of Arbeau's passages. Most of the class will be spent on learning the blows (with dowel-rods, not metal swords), the foot-work, and combining them in 2 or 3 of the simpler passages (\"thrust\" and \"three cuts\", and perhaps \"hey\" or \"bastion\", depending on how confident people feel). There should also be some time for discussing 16thC masque costume, and how to make modern versions, from the very cheap to the very expensive.

Musicians Meet and Greet

  • Finn
  • Octagon on Saturday at 10:00AM to 11:00AM

Finn will go over some of the details for the musicians for the event.

n Couple English Country Dances

Playford ECDs that require something other than two, three, or four couples in their instructions (though they may not actually require more to dance).

Old Measures

Learn some allemandes and old measures, suitable for beginners.

Performance Practice

This class is for musicians with good sight-reading skill. We will work on several pieces with the goal of playing as an ensemble rather than as a group of individuals. If the opportunity presents itself we will perform the pieces we learned.

Reading Caroso's lute tabulature

Some notes on reading Caroso's lute tabulature and turning into modern musical notation.

Recorder Playing for Beginners

A class aimed at learning some simple notes on the recorder, for complete beginners.

Standard Bransles Forms

  • Cormac Lenehan
  • Library on Monday at 10:00AM to 11:00AM

A class on the standard branle forms geared towards composers, but with a strong dance component.

Transcribing Four Part Harmony

A class on how to take a harpischord (or lute) piece and transcribe into multi-part single lines. This class will include some basics of composition rules. We will go through some examples of existing transcriptions as well as work as a class to transcribe a piece from the original into parts.

Two Balletti from Il Ballarino

Leggiadria d'Amore and Gratia d'Amore are both elaborated pavans, rather like Contentezza d'Amore, and so should be accessable to anyone acquainted with 16th century steps. The music for Leggiadra is available on one of the Letter of Dance CDs.

White Mensural Time Signatures

  • Crispin Sexi
  • Library on Monday at 4:00PM to 5:00PM

What the time signatures of 16thC musical notation mean, and how they relate to dances.

Unscheduled or Canceled Classes

  • Mixed up Playford