And we're all getting excited around here, I can tell! Posts are flying like crazy on the facebook group and it is reminding me that I need to go and find that yahoo group La Bete told me to join...lalala.
In other news I am getting more and more excited to do some more dancing! I'm planning to teach the four dances that Arbeau describes as being danced together as a suite: the Double, Single, Gai and Burgundian Bransles.
He describes the Simple & Double Bransles as stately and appropriate for elderly people to dance. The Gai Bransle for young married couples and the Burgundian Bransle for the "youngest of all". He describes this suite as a good one for opening up the dancing time at a ball or feast.
It's interesting in that it gives me more of an idea how a standard ball might be arranged: Pavane to process guests in and let each pay honor to the Presence, then a Galliard perhaps for the Dance-Master, the dancer most skilled in the local area, or whomever was called for by the crown. A small court might follow and then the formal beginning of dancing, starting with the Common Bransle, another name for our good old friend the Double Bransle.
These simple bransles were danced in circles, lines and tangles, as a suite or sequentially; but probably most often as a suite, especially towards the end of our period in Adria. The figure of the dance is up to you, however, as all three options seem equally appropriate and you may find some suit a particular group, dance or event.
One thing that I think it's important to keep in mind with actually doing the living part of living history reconstruction is to keep in mind that dancing was a pastime for the people we're imitating. Sure, there were probably people and times who danced because of social obligations. And we know that there were people who felt that dancing was impious and ungodly, but there were just as many if not more people that thought it was a healthy and wholesome way to facilitate proper relations between the sexes, and good health of mind & body.
Thoinot Arbeau had just that opinion, and he fills the Orchesographie with support for his views. I can't say that I disagree, I think there's no better way to spend an evening that dancing in good company.
And maybe by the time Collegium rolls around I'll have picked out a name. :D
In other news I am getting more and more excited to do some more dancing! I'm planning to teach the four dances that Arbeau describes as being danced together as a suite: the Double, Single, Gai and Burgundian Bransles.
He describes the Simple & Double Bransles as stately and appropriate for elderly people to dance. The Gai Bransle for young married couples and the Burgundian Bransle for the "youngest of all". He describes this suite as a good one for opening up the dancing time at a ball or feast.
It's interesting in that it gives me more of an idea how a standard ball might be arranged: Pavane to process guests in and let each pay honor to the Presence, then a Galliard perhaps for the Dance-Master, the dancer most skilled in the local area, or whomever was called for by the crown. A small court might follow and then the formal beginning of dancing, starting with the Common Bransle, another name for our good old friend the Double Bransle.
These simple bransles were danced in circles, lines and tangles, as a suite or sequentially; but probably most often as a suite, especially towards the end of our period in Adria. The figure of the dance is up to you, however, as all three options seem equally appropriate and you may find some suit a particular group, dance or event.
One thing that I think it's important to keep in mind with actually doing the living part of living history reconstruction is to keep in mind that dancing was a pastime for the people we're imitating. Sure, there were probably people and times who danced because of social obligations. And we know that there were people who felt that dancing was impious and ungodly, but there were just as many if not more people that thought it was a healthy and wholesome way to facilitate proper relations between the sexes, and good health of mind & body.
Thoinot Arbeau had just that opinion, and he fills the Orchesographie with support for his views. I can't say that I disagree, I think there's no better way to spend an evening that dancing in good company.
And maybe by the time Collegium rolls around I'll have picked out a name. :D