Contact the author of this article
Barony of Aneala

The Book of the Quest
Catalina da Gata


 

Catalina's Dances

La Spagna

As described by Domenichino of Italy in 1416 in De la Arte di Ballere at Danzare, with music by Cornazano.

Choreography

Reverence
2 continenzas l.r.
2 singles r.l.
4 doubles r.l.
1 reprise
2 singles l.r.
2 doubles l.r.
2 reprises l.r.
2 singles l.r.
1 double 1
1 double in retreat r
1 reprise revolving l
1 reprise sideways r
Reverence

Other Info

The dance steps are prescribed to Domenichino while the music is El Re di Spagna by Cornazano. The dance was meant for two dancers hand in hand. The Italian version is not restricted to two dancers or two or more couples, it can consist of 2 ladies and a man or 2 men and a lady.

From Dances of Spain and Italy from 1400 to 1600 by Mabel Dolmetsch




Saltarello

As described by Cesare Negri of Italy in 1598 in Brando Alta Regina, with music by Negri.

Negri's Choreography

Triple time
First strain (partners remain face to face)
1 hopped broken doubles 1, advancing
2 hopped broken doubles r.l. revolving and changing places
1 hopped broken doubles r circling left
Repeat
Repeat same figure returning to places
Second strain
1 hopped broken doubles 1 sideways
2 hopped broken singles r.l. sideways
3 side leaps and join feat r.l.r.l.
1 diminished reprise r
Repeat
4 hopped broken singles l.r.l.r. retreating
3 side leaps and join feet l.r.l.r.
1 diminished reprise l

Other Info

"Salterellos are an early period dance and comparatively little is known about them (as opposed to bransles, pavanes, and basse dances). They date from the 13th to the 14th century." This version was detailed by Negri in the 16th century. It is part of a sequence of dances titled Brando Alta Regina. It was dedicated to him by the Queen of Spain, Margherita, and was done as a masquerade with 4 shepherds and 4 nymphs dancing.

From Dances of Spain and Italy from 1400 to 1600 by Mabel Dolmetsch
Lo Spagnoletto

As described by Cesare Negri of Italy between 1550 and 1604 in Le Gratie d'Amore, with music by Negri.

Choreography

Begin with 2 couples in a circle, men facing each other and women facing each other.

Part 1
A. Reverenza breve concluding with a small jump
Seguito left around the circle
Two fioretti, l.r.
Seguito, l
B. Three sottopiedi, followed by a cadenza, l
Trabuchetto, r
Seguito left, turning on the spot
Three sottopiedi, followed by a cadenza, r
Trabuchetto, l
Seguito right, turning on the spot
C. Two passi backwards, r.l.
Seguito left, moving forwards into place
Two passi backwards, r.l.
Seguito right, moving forwards into place

Part 2
In this part the ladies do sections A&B, then all of the dancers do section C
A. Step forwards into the centre of the circle so as to move closer together
Seguito on the left foot moving past each other right shoulder to right shoulder and around into each other's places
Two spezzati, moving back around the circle to the right
Seguito back into place with the right foot
B. Ladies only repeat section B above
C. All repeat section C above

Part 3
Repeat part 2, this time the men doing what the ladies did

Part 4
A. All dance around the circle to the left
Dancing to the left moving around the circle (6 singles l.r.l.r.l.r.)
B. All repeat section B above
C. All repeat section C above

Part 5
Ladies only, dancing around the inside of the circle to the left, turning to their right sides forwards as they move to the left.
A. Two passi, l.r. one beat each done to the opposite lady
Trabuchetto l.r.
Seguito left, moving shoulder to shoulder around the opposite lady
Two steps, l.r, moving back to your original place.
Trabuchetto r.l. back to back with the opposite lady
Seguito l back into place
B. Ladies only repeat section B above
C. All repeat C above

Part 6
Repeat part 5, this time the men doing what the ladies did

Part 7
A. Men take their partners by the right arm and dance around them then take the left arm of the contrary and dance around them
Two spezzati and a seguito around your partner
Two spezzati and a seguito around your contrary
B. All repeat Section B above
C. All repeat section C above

Other Info

In Spain the dance of this type goes by the name of Espanoletas. Negri maintained his school of dancing in Milan, Under Spanish domination for half a century.

From Dances of Spain and Italy from 1400 to 1600 by Mabel Dolmetsch

Del's Dance Book  http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/del/16thc/16thc09.html


Back
Contents
Next

A and S HomeArts and Sciences Home