PERIOD STYLE: DANCE

PRINT SOURCES:

Arbeau, Thoinot. Orchesography, 1589. New York: Dover Publications, 1967. 0-486- 21745-0
Sixteenth century dances and dance music. Best place to start in the study of primary sources in early dance.

Alford, Violet and Rodney Gallop. The Traditional Dance. London: Methuen, 1935.
European rituals, folk drama, ballroom dance, mummers plays, many related to drama.

Baskervill. Charles Read. The Elizabethan Jig. New York: Dover, 1967.

Brainard, Ingrid. The Art of Courtly Dancing in the Early Renaissance, Part II: The Practice of Courtly Dancing. West Newton, MA: I. G. Brainard, 1981.

Brissendon, Allen. Shakespeare and the Dance. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press, 1981.

Bucknell, Peter. Entertainment and Ritual, 600-1600. London: n. p., 1979.

Cohen, Selma Jeanne, ed. Dance as a Theatre Art. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.

Cornazano, Antonio. The Book on the Art of Dancing, trans. by Madeleine Inglehearn and Peggy Forsyth. London: Dance Books, Ltd., 1981.

Cunningham, James P. Dancing in the Inns of Court. London: Jordan & Sons, Ltd., 1965.

Dolmetsch, Mabel. Dances of England and France, 1450-1600. London: Routledge & Paul, 1949.

________. Dances of Spain and Italy from 1400 to 1600. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1954. Reprint ed.; New York: DaCapo Press, 1975.
Dolmetsch's two texts offer an excellent primer in early dance. She offers many "ready to wear" reconstructions of early dances. Research in the field since her day has corrected and revised much of her work. Nevertheless, her work offers a handy, easy-to-use resource for choreographers.

Ebreo of Pesaro, Guglielmo. On the Practice or Art of Dancing, trans. by Barbara Sparti. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. 0-19-816233-2
Primary source on fifteenth century dance.

Essex, J., trans. The Dancing Master, or: The Whole Art and Mastery of Dancing Explained; and the Manner of Performing the Steps in Ballet Dancing Made Short and Easy. 2nd ed., 1731.

Fallows, David. "The Gresley Dance Collection, c. 1500," RMA Research Chronicle, XXIX(1996): 1-20.
This collection of dances from early sixteenth century England only recently came to light, and scholars have studied it avidly for the past decade. Many questions remain unanswered about its contents. Its contents would prove useful for movement improvisation.

Hilton, Wendy. Dance of the Court and Theatre: 1690-1725. n. c.: Princeton Book Company, 1981.

Horst, Louis. Pre-Classic Dance Forms. Brooklyn: Dance Horizons, 1968.

Inglehearn, Madeleine. Fifteenth Century Dances from Burgundy and Italy. Witham, Essex: The Company of Dansers, 1981.
Inglehearn remains one of the leading scholars in early dance in the United Kingdom. Fifteenth century dance presents special challenges in reconstruction and performance. Her work in reconstructing and interpreting fifteenth centurydance stands as some of the clearest available.

Jackman, James L., ed. Fifteenth Century Basse Dances. New York: Books for Libraries/Arno Press, 1980. 0-8369-9295-4

Lauze, F. de. A Treatise of Instruction in Dancing and Deportment, trans. by Joan Wildeblood. London: Frederick Muller Ltd., 1952.

Lawler, Lillian. Dance in Ancient Greece. London: A. C. Black, 1964.
Also published as The Dance of the Ancient Greek Theatre, Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1964.

Mather, Betty B. Dance Rhythms of the French Baroque. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987.

Negri, Cesare. Le Gratie d'Amore, trans. by Gustavia Y. Kendall. PhD Dissertation: Stanford University, 1985.
Kendall's work gives great attention to the dance music in this sixteenth century source on Italian court dances. Negri's manual compares to Caroso's above, but lacks the specificity and clarity of Caroso's work. In any event, it contains dozens of dance/music reconstructions.

Playford, John. Court Dances and Others. London: J. Curwen, 1911.
Pavane, galliard, others.

________. The English Dancing Master. New York: Dance Horizons, 1933.
Originally published 1651. Also published by London: Schott and Co., Ltd., 1957.

Rameau, P. The Dancing Master, trans. by Cyril W. Beaumont. London: n. p., 1731.
Original French edition published 1725. Embellished with 57 plates.

________. La Maitre a danser. Paris: n. p., 1725.

Richardson, Philip J. S. Social Dances of the 19th Century. London: H. Jenkins, 1960.

Sachs, Curt. World History of the Dance. New York: W. W. Norton, 1937.
Dances from ancient Greece to 1900.

Siris, P. The Art of Dancing, Demonstrated by Characters and Figures. London: n.p., 1706.

Spencer, Paul. Society and the Dance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1985.

Julia Sutton, translator and editor. Courtly Dance of the Renaissance: A New Translation and Edition of the "Nobiltà di Dame" (1600), by Fabritio Caroso. Music transcribed and edited by F. Marian Walker. New York: Dover, 1995, notation by Rachelle Palnick Tsachor.
The Dover edition includes a new chapter length appendix: Italian Renaissance Dance Steps: A Labanotation manual of Dance Step-Types as interpreted by Dr. Sutton and notated by Rachelle Palnick Tsachor, indexed to the primary text in English translation. Treatise on courtly dance, together with the choreography and music of 49 dances. Contains large section on general etiquette.

Thomas, Bernard and Jane Gingell. The Renaissance Dance Book. London: London Pro Musica, 1987.

Tomlinson, Kellom. The Art of Dancing Explained by Reading and Figures: Whereby the Manner of Performing the Steps is Made Easy by a New and Familiar Method: Being the Original Work First Designed in the year 1724. London: n. p., 1735.

Van Winkle Keller, Kate and Shimer, Genevieve. The Playford Ball, 2nd ed. Northampton, MA: Country Song and Dance Society, 1994.
An excellent source for clear, accurate instructions and music for many English country dances. The authors provide good scholarship and background information.

Weaver, John. Anatomical and Mechanical Lectures upon Dancing, Wherein Rules and Institutions of that Art are Laid Down and Demonstrated. London: Brotherton and Meadows, 1721.

Wood, Melusine. Historical Dances 12th-19th Centuries. London: Imperial Society/C. W. Beaumont, 1956.
See also her More Historical Dances and Advanced Historical Dances published by the Imperial Society through 1964.

ELECTRONIC SOURCES:

Dolmetsch Society Web Site
www.dhds.org.uk
In the first half of the twentieth century, Mabel Dolmetsch pioneered early dance research and performance. This organization houses a large archive of early music and dance materials, and it serves as a clearinghouse for information about early dance workshops, research, exhibits, and programs. Also, it offers through this web site a extensive line of dance manuals and accompanying tapes of music containing reconstructions of early dance and music--all by scholars in the United Kingdom.

Library of Congress Web Site on Early Dance
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/dihtml/divideos.html
This site features video samples of steps and dances of the fifteenth through nineteenth century. Some software download may be necessary.

Renaissance Dance Web Site
www.ucs.mun.ca/~andrew/rendance
A number of early dance scholars and performers developed this web site. It represents the best starting point for anyone to begin research in the area. All of the primary sources listed above are available on-line through this source. The site links to a subscription listserve of early dance scholars, mostly North American. Anyone can join the conversation and get information from the best in the field. It also contains links to other early dance web sites where reconstructions of dances are available online. It contains extensive annotated bibliographies and discographies.

AUDIO/VIDEO SOURCES:

Bergsohn, Isa and harold. Early Dance, 2 Vols. Pennington, NJ: Princeton Books Co., Dance Horizons Video, 1995.
Two video set surveying dance from ancient Athens through the Baroque era. Phone 1-800-220-7149.

La Gratie d'Amore. New York: Historical Dance Foundation, 1992.
Video of performances of 16th century court dances. Phone 212-255-5545.

Kennedy, Judith. Popular Dances of the Renaissance: A Dance Lesson With Written and Vocal Instructions.
Audio cassette and booklet. Available through the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Sutton, Julia. Il Ballarino. Pennington, NJ: Princeton Book Company, Dance Horizons Video, 1990. 0-87127-170-2
Video showing steps and various dances by the 16th century dancemaster, Fabritio Caroso.

Whitley-Bauguess, Paige. Introduction to Baroque Dance, 2 Vols. New Bern, NC: Down East Dance, 1999.
Two videos demonstrating various baroque dances. Includes CD of all music that accompanies the dances shown in the videos.

Title: Il Ballarino
Artist: The Broadside Band
Label: Hyperion
Distributor: Hyperion Records Limited, London, England
Format/Number: CD CDA66244
Dances from Caroso, Negri, and Lupi. One of the best collections available.

Title: Country Capers: Music from John Playford's The English Dancing Master
Artist: The New York Renaissance Band
Label: Arabesque
Distributor: 1984 Caedmon, NY, NY
Format/Number: CD DIDX92
Good arrangements of many of the Playford English country dances.

Title: Orchesographie
Artist: The New York Renaissance Band
Tunes for most of Arbeau's dances, some reconstructed from other sources. Quite danceable.

Title: Balli e Balletti da Ballare
Artist: Atelier Danse
Label: ADDA
Distributor: Qualiton Imports Ltd.
Format/Number: CD FM 581071
An excellent collection of 16th century Italian court dances. Includes Laura Suave, Furioso all'Italiania, Barriera Nuova, Passo e Mezzo, Bizzarria
d'Amore, Bassa Pompilia, So Ben Mi Chi Ha Bon Tempo, Pavana e Gagliarda, Il Canario, Ruota di Fortuna, Contrapasso Nuovo, Chiaranzana. Dance advisor was Andrea Francalanci. Hard to find because it is listed (in the US) as Italian Dance Music of the Renaissance, ensemble directed by Claude Flagel.

Title: Dances from Terpsichore
Artist: Colleguim Terpsichore / Siegfried Behrend / Siegfried Fink / Ulsamer Collegium
Label: Innovative Music Productions (IMP)
Format/Number: CD IMPX 9026
A number of good danceable tunes from Praetorius.

Title: Renaissance Dance Music
Artist: London Pro Musica
Distributor: London Pro Musica
Label: Tactus Recordings (England)
Format/Number: Cassette Tape, 1987
Dance advisor was Jane Gingell. This tape accompanies the dance book by Gingell and Thomas. One side is pavans/bransles andthe other is balli. One of the best collections available.

Title: Homage to Amour: Sixteenth Century Dances of Love from Fabritio Caroso.
Artist: Les Verres Casses
Distributor: Angene Feves, 70 Karol Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA
Format/Number: Cassette Tape
Dance advisor was Angene Feves, one of America's finest early dance scholars. 15 balli from Il Ballarino and Nobilta di Dame. Order directly from the distributor.

Title: Dances of a Noble Gathering
Artist: The Consortium Antiquum Band
Distributor: Angene Feves, 70 Karol Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA
Format/Number: Cassette Tape
Long recordings of Chiaranzana & Sciolta, Contrapasso, and Fedelta. Dance advisor was Angene Feves, one of America's finest early dance scholars. Order directly from the distributor.

Title: Cesare Negri: La Gratie D'amore (1602)
Artist: The Oxford University Early Music Society.
Distributor: Quentin Miller, Wadham College, OX1 3PN, OXFORD, England
Dance advisor is Nancy J. Walker. An excellent collection of Negri tunes that includes So ben mi chi ha bon tempo, Il Bigara, Il Torneo Amoroso, Il
Bizarro, Alta Mendozza, Alta Visconte, Austria Felice, Ballo fatto da sei Cavalieri, Alamana d'Amore, La Catena D'amore. Order directly from the distributor. This recording has been arranged and performed with dance teaching in mind: (a) tempi are appropriate for novice dancers; (b) a drum beat introduces each piece, so that one is not caught off guard by the start of the music; (c)sections are repeated enough times to accompany the entire dance; (d) each piece ends with a long chord to accompany the reverenza.