Info: Known World Dance Symposium (May 21-23)

[SCAVard@aol.com]

Poster: SCAVard@aol.com

Greetings all:

For those souls considering attending the KWDS in the Barony of Shattered 
Crystal (Godfrey, IL...near St. Louis), below is a current list of scheduled 
classes.  (Updated info will be available at http://members.xoom.com/KWDS/

Also, please note that the scheduled Northern Regional Dance Practice (May 
2nd) has been officially postponed so that all can attend Crown Tourney.  We 
will next meet to dance on May 16th.  Info: 
http://members.aol.com/SCAVard/dance.htm (just as soon as I can update it, 
that is. <g>)

// Vard //

Lord Edvard Gayer, Chronicler
Barony of Dun Carraig, Atlantia
http://members.aol.com/SCAVard
-------------
 Court: 
Advanced English Country Dance / Perronnelle Charrette de La Tour du Pin 
(Advanced ) THL Perronelle will teach two of the more challenging country 
dances from Playford's English Dancing Master, first edition: Parson's 
Farewell and Whirligig. 

Arbeau's Bransles / Perronnelle Charrette de La Tour du Pin (Beginner) This 
class will cover a variety of bransles from Arbeau's Orchesographie.  SCA 
variants of the dances and reconstruction issues will also be discussed. 

Il Canario / Delbert von Strassburg (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. 

Dances from Il Papa / Roselyn de l'Estrangere and Maria Elisabetta Gonzaga 
(Intermediate) This class will cover several dances from the Il Papa Ms. 
(Codex Megliabecchiana-Strozziano XIXm cod. 31).  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 / Richard Makrieth (Intermediate) 
Three couple sets became immensely popular in the 18th Century, but the 17th 
Century had its own version of the three couple set.  This class will teach 
Mayden Lane, The Black Nag, Upon a Summer's Day and Grimstock.  (Possibly 
more if time permits.) 

15th Century Italian Dance: Introductory Social Repertoire / Rosina del Bosco 
Chiaro (Beginner/Intermediate) Yes, they had fun in period, even in the 15th 
Century.  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? / 
Rosina del Bosco Chiaro (Intermediate/Advanced) Once you have the social 
dances down pat, it's time to move on to the really impressive and "Wow them" 
dances.  Mistress Rosina keeps wandering around mutter something about 
"Tesara", but we're not quite sure what this class will cover yet.  Be 
surprise, be very surprised. 

15th Century Italian Dances: Another Tradition / Mara Kolarova 
(Beginner/Intermediate) Three 15th Century Italian dances (bassadanza Lauro, 
plus 2 others), based on reconstructions done by Dr. Ingrid Brainard. The 
15th Century Italian sources are ambiguous, so various researchers have 
differing interpretations. These steps look somewhat different from those 
spreading through the Society in recent years. 

Kick the Tassel / Daniele de Padola (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?  Do you think that normal 
galliards just don't give you enough of an oportunity to show off?  Come 
learn how the Italians dealt with such problems.  Cesare Negri gave some 
somewhat confusing descriptions for steps with which to "kick the tassel."  
We will go through several of them, of varying degrees of difficulty.  Please 
come well warmed up. 

Laura Gentile / Lizbeth Ravensholm (Intermediate/Advanced) 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 (Intermediate/Advanced) 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. 

Negri's Squares for Four / Urraca Yriarte de Gamboa (Intermediate) This class 
will teach three of Negri's verse/chorus dances with no tempo changes: 
Bizzaria d'Amore, Lo Spangoletto, Il Villanicco. 

The Old Measures: Dances from the Inns of Court, London, 1570-1675 / 
Trahearne ap Ieuan and Janelyn of Fen-mere (Beginner) 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 first half 
of the class will be lecture.  During the second half, we will teach all 
eight Old Measures, and some additional dances.  These are simple dances, so 
no experience is reqired.  (Note for those who attended KWDS'97, content is 
similar to what we taught there, but some of the scholarly background is 
revised based on further research we have done and on recent academic 
publications on this topic.)  CD's of the music used in class will be 
available for $6.00 each. 

The Volta / Mara Kolarova (Intermediate) 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. It's a 
lot of fun, and not too hard if you learn the steps before coordinating them 
with a partner. Very energetic, requires jumping. Some prior exposure to 
galliards helpful but not required. 
  
Folk/Traditional: 

Japanese Court Dance / Solveig Throndardottir (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.  While Japan does not appear to have 
developed a social dance form as we usually think of it, dance and dance 
ritual have been of great importance in Japan since the dawn of history.  
Many of thse dances are pantomimic or semiotic and may be reminiscent of 
Southern and West Asian dance forms.  This class will introduce the cultural 
context of Japanese dance and introduce the basic movement patterns and style 
of these dances.  If you are interested in things Japanese, in court ritual, 
or in the relationship between dance and myth and religion, you will find 
something of interest in this style of dancing. 

Peasant Dances / Silvija the Landlady (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. 

Rennaissance German Dances / Brudder Johann von Metten (Intermediate) Three 
dances from Germany/Hungary: Familia Waltzer (a type of bransle with a early 
waltz/pivot step,) Rheinlandler/Bayerischer (similar to the dances seen in 
Breugel's paintings) and Hunnrischer Marsche (a very late 16th cen. march 
from Hungary.) 

Vikings DO TOO Dance! / TSivia bas Tamara (Beginner/Intermediate) Original 
research done by Countess Brynhildr Kormaksdottir, O.L. (Ansteorra) and 
Baroness TSivia bas Tamara v'Amberview, O.L. (Ealdormere), 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. Learn the "Faeroe Island Hand Hold" and amaze your friends! Sing along 
with dances in the original language ("Mork, mork, mork??") 
  
Theory: 

Mannerism in Sixteenth Century Court Dance / Isaac de Hugo - 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. 
Ultimately, mannerist aesthetics remind us that the dance--not the 
dancer--remains the center of attention. 

Mistress Lizbeth Holds Forth / Lizbeth Ravensholm - 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. 

Round Table Discussion of the Gresley MS. / Trahearne ap Ieuan and Janelyn of 
Fen-mere - In 1995 a manuscript source was discovered which sheds light on a 
previously unknown genre of perid dance.  It is the Gresley Dance Collection 
(Derbyshire Record Office, D77 Box 38, pp. 51-79,) from Derbyshire, England, 
c. 1500.  It includes 91 dance titles, 26 detailed choreographies and 13 
dance melodies.  There are some clear ties to Italian and French dances of 
the period, yet it clearly represents a unique English dance style.  Mundane 
and SCA scholarship with this source is just beginning.  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, and come up 
with ideas on where to go with it next.  (The moderators claim no expertise 
with this source; we've just started playing with it ourselves...) 

Running a Ball Round Table / Perronnelle Charrette de La Tour du Pin - What 
works and what doesn't and why for SCA balls, especially a non-Caroso one. 

Teaching Techniques for Dancemasters / Mara Kolarova - 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. 

What Do We Know about Medieval Dance? / Urraca Yriarte de Gamboa - 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. 
  
Middle Eastern: 

Beginning/Intermediate Middle Eastern Dance / Edwina Dirks Sterne - 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 / Cormac - Learning the 
rhythms and playing as a group. 

Beginning Middle Eastern Dance / Morgan McBride 

Beginning Veil / Morgan McBride 

Further Middle Eastern Drum Techniques / Cormac - More rhythm and techniques. 
 This class will be geared to the level of the musicians present. 

Guedra Drum Class / Cormac and Morgan McBride - A class on playing the drum 
for the guedra trance dance. 

Intermediate Middle Eastern Dance / Edwina Dirks Sterne 

Line Dance / Edwina Dirks Sterne - Teaches a short choreography. 

Quedra Trance Dance / Morgan McBride - A class teaching the North African 
trance dance ritual. 

Sampling of Folkloric Line Dances / Morgan McBride - This class will cover 
the Thob dance, Turkish dance and others. 

Zills / Edwina Dirks Sterne - I am assured that there are classes in this 
track, we just don't have descriptions yet. 
  

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