Dances of France and Burgundy

Bransles
Bransles are the simplest of the known renaissance dances, and a bransle is usually the first dance that is taught of any of the known medieval or renaissance dances. Most bransles are circle dances, which are usually danced in a circle of alternating men and ladies (although this does not strictly matter). Some bransles are line dances, while others can be danced as either line or circle dances. History The word bransle comes from a French word meaning a side-to-side movement. Most of the steps in a bransle are from side to side. There is one primary source for all of the bransles described in this book this is the Orchesography of Thoinot Arbeau, published in France in 1589. You can find references to a translation of Orchesography available from Dover (by Mary Stuart Evans) in the bibliography provided with this dance book. Orchesography is the most fundamental primary dance source used for dances in the SCA, and it is a must have if you are going to do any period dance research. There is also a facsimile edition of Orchesography available, although obviously unless you read French the translation will be easier to work from! Social Setting It is reasonably obvious from the description of the bransles in Orchesography, and from Arbeaus status in society, that the bransles were dances done normally by the lower or middle classes in French society at the time (the upper classes were probably dancing pavanes, galliards, and perhaps some dances in the Italian style at the time). Generally, bransles are done in 4/4 time.

Timing

The Basic Steps

SL -- Single Left Starting with feet closed (or wherever the feet ended up after the last step), step to the left with the left foot, and then join feet, stepping to the left with the right foot.

SR -- Single Right

Step to the right with the right foot, then join feet, stepping to the right with the left foot.

2 DL -- Double Left Step to the left with the left foot, bring the right foot over near the left foot (either to the right of it and adjacent to it, or to the right and slightly behind it, or behind it while turning slightly at the waist). Then step to the left again with the left foot, and join feet, stepping to the left with the right foot.

Bransles

DR -- Double Right

Step to the right with the right foot, bring the left foot over near the right foot (either to the left of it and adjacent to it, or to the left and slightly behind it, or behind it while turning slightly at the waist). Then step to the right again with the right foot, and join feet, stepping to the right with the left foot.

Two Basic Bransles: Bransle Double and Bransle Single

These bransles can be done in a line or in a circle. Partners or alternating genders are not required. Bransle double DL, DR, DL, DR, ... The dance repeats to the end of the music. Bransle single (Bransle simple) DL, SR, DL, SR, ... The dance repeats to the end of the music. These two dances are extremely basic, and are therefore not taught or danced much. They do in fact form part of a basic set of bransles, and are good warm up dances. Either of the above two dances (or both of them) can be turned into a knot bransle. In a knot bransle, the dancers form a line. The dancer at the head of the line leads the other dancers around the hall, weaving around the hall and in and out of the line itself. This can cause the line of dance to get knotted around itself, which can take some straightening out. Dancers should try not to let the line break at any point, which can get harder and harder as the line gets more knotted.

Dances of France and Burgundy

Some More Bransle Steps

Occasionally youll find that we ask you to do a single or double with a cross. This just means that at the end of the step, you cross your foot in front of one knee as you finish. So, if you are doing a double to the left, you cross your right foot over in front of your left knee as you finish. See the picture on the right. Below are the descriptions of the singles and doubles with a cross.

SLx -- Single Left Crossing

Step to the left with the left foot, then bring the right foot across in front of the left leg in a small kick. The right leg should be bent, and the right foot should pass about midway up the calf of the left leg. Step to the right with the right foot, then bring the left foot across in front of the right leg in a small kick. The left leg should be bent, and the left foot should pass about midway up the calf of the right leg. Step to the left with the left foot, then close feet, stepping to the left with the right foot. Step to the left again with the left foot, then bring the right foot across in front of the left leg in a small kick. The right leg should be bent, and the right foot should pass about midway up the calf of the left leg. Step to the right with the right foot, then close feet, stepping to the right with the left foot. Step to the right again with the right foot, then bring the left foot across in front of the right leg in a small kick. The left leg should be bent, and the left foot should pass about midway up the calf of the right leg. A kick left goes like this: Jump into the air very slightly, finishing with the left foot off the ground. A kick right is just the opposite. Note that the picture shows that the dancer only comes very slightly off the ground with the front foot.

SRx -- Single Right Crossing

DLx -- Double Left Crossing

DRx -- Double Right Crossing

KL -- Kick Left

4 Cp -- Capriole The picture shows part of a capriole. This is done by leaping into the air and passing your feet back and forwards past each other. Depending on how adept youre feeling, you can make 2, 3, 5, or even more passes.

Bransles

Dances of France and Burgundy

A Basic Bransle Set: Double/Single/Gai/Burgundian

This bransle set, according to Arbeau, was the first dance done at any ball. The entire dance set can be done as a learning piece in a circle, or as a knot bransle set if the dancers are more experienced. Bransle single and bransle double have been described earlier. Partners or alternating genders are not required for any of the dances in this set. Bransle Gai: KL KR KL KR pause KR KL KR KL pause The dance repeats to the end of the music. The dancers should move to the left while executing the kicks. Burgundian Bransle (Bransle de Bourgogne): DLx DRx DLx DRx The dance repeats to the end of the music. The dancers should make the steps to the right smaller than the steps to the left, so that the entire line of dance continues to move to the left. The entire bransle set (Single, Double, Gai, Burgundian) can be done as a set of dances done in a circle, a line bransle set, or a knot bransle set.

This picture, from a manuscript in Valencia, shows dancers performing a dance that could possibly have been a bransle, or a fore-runner to it.

Bransles

Mimed Bransles
The mimed bransles form a simple four-bransle set. These dances are easy to learn, and introduce the more common bransle steps with a bit of interplay between the partners using steps unique to each dance, which makes for a fun set of dances. The dances are all circle dances for couples, the lady stands on the man's left. Each dance starts with the circle holding hands for the introduction, and then dropping hands for the theme.

Washerwoman's Bransle (Bransle les Lavandieres)

Introduction DL DR DL DR Optionally, during the doubles left, partners can flirt with each other. During the doubles right, the men flirt with the ladies on their right (not their partner), while the ladies flirt with the man on their left. Theme Partners turn 90 and face each other. Men Ladies SL SR SL SR Wagging their fingers at the ladies in a scolding manner, the ladies stand with their hands on their hips. As above, wagging their fingers at the men.

All dancers turn and face the center again. All: DL DR DL KL KR KL Cp During the double left the dancers clap their hands to the beat of the music. Double Right. Double Left, clapping as above. Kick Left, Right, Left, and Jump, while turning in place over your left shoulder.

Pease Bransle (Branle des Pois)

Introduction Theme DL DR DL DR Men: Ladies: Men: Jump Jump Jump Jump Jump Jump left on both feet, landing next to their partner. Jump left on both feet, away from their partner. Jump left with three smaller jumps, again landing next to their partner.

Dances of France and Burgundy Ladies: Men: Ladies: Jump Jump Jump Jump Jump Jump left on both feet, away from their partner. Jump left on both feet, landing next to their partner. Jump left with three smaller jumps, away from their partner.

Shoes Bransle (Clog Bransle, Bransle des Sabots)

Introduction Theme DL DR DL DR Men: Ladies: SL SR SL SR Stamp 3 times with the right foot. Stamp 3 times with the right foot.

Horses Bransle (Bransle de Chevaulx)

Introduction DL DR DL DR DL DR DL DR This introduction is twice as long as the introduction for the other bransles in this set. Theme Men: Paw Paw SR DL Paw the ground twice with the right foot, imitating a horse. Turning over the left shoulder, across the front of their partner, ending to the left of the partner (in other words, the men rotate around the circle one place to the left).1 Paw the ground twice with the right foot. As above.

Ladies:

Paw Paw SR DL

Repeat the theme. Note that Arbeau actually says to do the dance with the man holding both of the ladys hands. I assume that the couples would be in a line facing each other to do this.

Arbeau just says to turn over the shoulder, however this reconstruction is the one most popular in Lochac.

Bransles

Mixed Bransles
These dances form a five bransle set. They are usually done in the order Cassandra-Pinagay-Charlotte-LaGuerre-Aridan. Arbeau refers to these as the Mixed Bransles of Champagne, while in Lochac they are known as the Cut Bransles. The dances are best learned in the order that they are shown, and the order that they are danced in the set. They increase with complexity through the set, and the Aridan can take quite some time to master.

Cassandra
Part I Part II DL DR DL DR DL DR SL DR (repeat)

Pinagay
Part I Part II DL KL DL KL KR KL DL DR

Charlotte
Part I Part II DL KL KR DR (repeat) DL KL KR SR KL KR KL SL KR KL KR DR This dance is more complicated than the first two, and takes a little bit more effort to learn. The key is to remember that each single is followed by three kicks, and the doubles are only ever followed by two kicks. Also, remember that after each single you do not change feet to start the kicks -the best way to remember this is to not close the single completely, so that you are left with one foot slightly hanging in the air ready to start the kicks. After each double, you close the step and change feet as normal to begin the kicks.

Dances of France and Burgundy

La Guerre
This dance is actually easier than it looks, if you have the stamina to keep up with it. The steps alternate left-right-left-right, just like a large number of other simple dances. Remembering that is often the key to remembering the entire dance. Part I DL DR DL DR DL DR DL DR The introduction to this dance is twice as long as the introduction to any of the other dances in this set. Part II DL DR SL SR DL SR SL DR SL KL KR KL (Feet Together) Capriole The only tricky part about this dance is that the entire theme is done at double speed. Think quickly, and remember double-double/single-singledouble/single-single-double/single-kick-kick-kick-capriole. To do a capriole, jump into the air, and waggle both feet around a bit (or ride a bicycle backwards is another way to do it). Land on the ground on both feet, with the left foot slightly forwards of the right foot.

Aridan
This dance is the hardest of the mixed bransles to learn. Remember that the introduction is quite short, and the theme is longer and repeats. Also remember that the theme is in three parts, a, b, and c. Part I Part II DL KL KR KL (repeat) a. b. c. DL SR SL SR DL KL KR DR Step L Close KR Step R KL Double left, three singles. Double left, two kicks. Double right, step close kick step kick. Or: double, shuffle kick step kick.

The entire theme then repeats (parts a, b, and c). The correct way to do (c) is as follows: Double Right; step left, close, step left, kick right; step right, close, kick left. The bit after the double is sort of a truncated double left with a kick right at the end; followed by a single right with a kick left.

10

Bransles

The Official Bransle

The official bransle (Bransle de l'Official, officers bransle) is probably the most common dance in my part of the SCA, and one of the most popular. The dance is a circle dance for as many couples as will. The man stands to the left of the lady. Part I Part II DL DR DL DR2 SL SL SL SL SL SL KL KR KL (feet together) At the end of this sequence, partners turn towards each other slightly, the lady turning to face the man. The lady leaps across the front of the man, assisted in her leap by the man who should guide her with his hands on her waist. The entire dance repeats.3

Scottish Bransle
This is a circle or a line dance, for as many dancers as will. Partners or alternating genders are not required. Part I DLx DRx SLx SRx Repeat. Part II DLx SRx SLx DRx DLx SRx KR KL KR Jump and Capriole The entire dance repeats until the music runs out.

Arbeau gives these steps as doubles with small hops in between each step. The dance that is done throughout Lochac does not include the hops, although some dancers ornament the steps slightly with kicks at the end of each double. The singles should be hopped as well however be careful to put a single hop at the end of each step of the singles, rather than bouncing around madly on one leg as I have seen some people do this. If your tendency is to bounce, then youre probably better off leaving the hops out all together. Which way you do this depends on how your musicians play the tune.

Dances of France and Burgundy

11

Bransle of Brittany (Trihory)

This bransle is mentioned in passing in Orchesography, being a bransle that Arbeau learned when he was a student at Poitiers. Part I Part II DL Spring Left, landing on both feet. KL KR KL The dance repeats from this point. Arbeau states that "at the end of the trihory" the steps KR KL KR are done differently. Standing on the tips of your toes, swing your heels to the right, then to the left, and then swing to the right again at the same time raising your right foot. The music is the same whether the theme is done as a set of jumps or swings. It would be open to interpretation as to whether these steps would be done only at the end of the dance, or at the end of each second repeat (being the end of the sequence of music that Arbeau has provided). Having tried the dance only briefly, I would believe that the alternate steps would work better if they were done at the end of each second repeat as there are no clues in the music as to where the end of the dance is.

12

Bransles

Torch Bransle
Figure 1 The dance starts with a number of men on the floor, holding a lighted candle. Each of them dances through the hall using the following steps: DLf DRf DLf DRf DLf DRf DLf DRf (8 Doubles forwards, alternating Left and Right). The doubles are all done with a hop at the end. Figure 2 At the end of Figure 1, the man should come and stop near a lady. He performs a short reverance and then dances towards her: SLf SRf SLf SRf (4 Singles, alternating Left and Right) Repeat Repeat the dance from the beginning, dancing together. In the repeat of figure 2, use the last two of them to reverence and hand the candle over to your partner. In the next repeat, the new holder of the candle dances off to find a new partner, and the dance can repeat from there ad infinitum.

Hay Bransle
This dance starts with any number of people in a line. Most of the recordings I have seem to be set up for 3 people, which is how I have seen it danced most often. Figure 1 SL SR DL SR SL DR repeat This is done using courante steps hopping before each step of the single or double. Figure 2 Play the B music as many times as necessary for the dancers to get through this section. Using pavan doubles, make a hey until the everyone is back to their original places. Notes You can take hands or not during the hey, whichever you prefer. Arbeau doesn't say.

Dances of France and Burgundy

13

Other French Dances

Although most of the dances in Orchesography are bransles, Arbeau describes a number of dances that are not bransles. These include the following types of dance:

Pavanes Galliards and Tourdions Basse Danses Courante

Music and Choreography

Arbeau in most cases does not give music for these dances (beyond a single line, or part of a single line), and in other cases does not give much in the way of choreography. For example, his description of the pavan only states that the dance has two singles and a double forwards, and two singles and a double backwards, while his description of the courante only gives the step types, and not any specific choreography. Modern day reconstructors of these dances have tended to embellish these dance descriptions and invent choreographies for them. These choreographies are what have tended to become danced as common dances in the SCA, and these are described in this book.

Other Music

There are also many pieces of pavan, basse danse, courante, and galliard music published in period in various arrangements. There are a lot of choreographies that have been written specifically to match one or another piece of music. The books of Pierre Attaignant, Susato, and Praetorius are good sources to find music to fit such dances to Praetorius in particular published an almost ridiculous number of arrangements of courante, galliard, and volte music that can be used for creating choreographies in period style.

Pavanes
The pavan is a slow, processional court dance. All pavanes have a common thread, that is they all have the same basic steps. The word pavan comes from "Padoanna", which is an ancient dance of Padua, in Italy. All pavanes are done in duple time. Each pavan is commonly followed by a Galliard. The galliard for any pavan is often danced to the same tune as the pavan, but played at a much livelier pace, in triple time. Galliard tunes developed a character of their own during the time of Elizabeth I's reign (some of which I find too slow to be danceable).

14

Other French Dances

Steps
The basic steps of all pavanes is a set of three steps: SingleSingle-Double. This is either SL-SR-DL (a pavan set left), or SRSL-DR (a pavan set right). Most steps done in a pavan are done going either forwards or backwards.

SL -- Single Left, moving forwards. SR -- Single Right, moving forwards. DL -- Double Left, moving forwards.

Step forwards on the left foot, then join feet, stepping forwards on the right foot. Step forwards on the right foot, then join feet, stepping forwards on the left foot. Step forwards on the left foot, then forwards on the right foot moving past the left foot, then forwards on the left foot, moving past the right foot, then join feet, stepping forwards on the right foot. Step forwards on the right foot, then forwards on the left foot moving past the right foot, then forwards on the right foot, moving past the left foot, then join feet, stepping forwards on the left foot. These steps are the same as the singles moving forwards, except that they are done backwards.

DR -- Double Right, moving forwards.

SLb/SRb -- Single Left/Right moving backwards DLb/DRb -- Double Left, moving backwards.

These steps are the same as the doubles listed above, but the steps are done moving backwards. In a pavan, a single takes two bars (left-together), and a double takes four bars (left-right-left-together). A Pavan Set is a combination of single-single-double, done moving either forwards or backwards. This is the basic step unit of the Pavan all pavans are simply pavan sets done over and over again.

Pavan Set

A Basic Pavan: The Known World Pavan

This is an SCA choreography set to the Pavan music (Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie), in Arbeaus Orchesography. It is one of the most common dances done in the SCA. This is often called the Carolingian Pavan, or just The Pavan.

Dances of France and Burgundy 1-8 9 - 16 17 - 24 25 - 32 SL SR DL SR SL DR SL SR DL SRb SLb DRb Pavan Pavan Pavan Pavan set set set set forwards forwards forwards backwards

15

At this point, the gentlemen kneel, and the ladies continue the dance in a full circle around the men, still holding hands. 33 - 40 SL SR DL Moving half way around the man, to end up facing backwards down the line, and on the opposite side to where you started. Moving back into position.

41 - 48

SR SL DR

At this point, the men rise, and dance around the ladies in the same way: 49 - 56 SL SR DL Moving half way around the lady, to end up facing backwards down the line, and on the opposite side to where you started. Moving back into position.

57 - 64

SR SL DR

The dance repeats as often as necessary to the end of the music. In the Stomhold version of this dance the men do not kneel, and the couples drop hands during bars 33 - 64.

Galliards and Tourdions

The tourdion is a light, quick 15th century dance in 32 measures which usually follows a basse danse. It was a simple, purer form which developed into the galliard. The latter veiled the simpler tourdion steps in elaboration and decoration, but became an entity danced by itself. The quicker tourdion was performed with lower, faster kicks (pied en l'air), while the slower galliard could allow higher kicks, for example the greve and the pied crosse. The Galliard and Tourdion are both done to six beats, and have similar steps. Here are the basic steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.6. kL kR kL kR Capriole Hop into the air, and land on the right foot, with the left foot extended (like a KL in a Bransle).

Pause slightly, then take a larger leap, landing on both feet with the left foot in front of the right foot. (PL).

16

Other French Dances

The above sequence is called a "cinque pas" (five steps), and is repeated throughout the dance alternating with the following sequence, which is the same thing starting on the right foot. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.6. kR kL kR kL Capriole

A common way of dancing the Tourdion after a Basse Danse is to dance 8 cinq pas travelling forwards, then 8 facing your partner, repeating until you run out of music or weet bix. Galliards are done following a pavan. Often, each pavan music has a galliard piece following the same tune, but in 6/6 time. There is theoretically some similarity between the galliard and tourdion, and the pas de brabant of the Burgundian basse danses, and the saltarelli of the 15th century Italian Balli.

Galliard Variations & More Complex Galliard Steps

To learn the endless variations of galliard figures, it is necessary to be conversant with the vocabulary from which they are named. Abbreviations k K Hk Ck Pc Bk J jj j Cp CS P Mf Mp Fl Cn Sf En Pj Pied en l'air Greve Ruade (horsekick) Ru de vache Pied crouise Campanello Saut majeur Saut moyen Petit saut Capriole Cadence Posture Marque talon Marque pied Fleuret Canary Fleuret Croise (L) Entretaille Pied Joints low kick (front) high kick (front) (back kick) cowkick (side kick) crossed kick (foot across other shin) bell kick (alternate pied en l'air/ruade on the same foot) high jump medium jump small jump jump, crossing feet in air jump, followed by a Posture walking pose (foot & hand on same side forward, other foot & hand back) touch heel to ground touch toe to ground 2 rapid alternate low kicks followed by a normal pace high kick (kL kR KL) low kick, marque talon, then quick marque pied. (L) sideways step followed by quick (R) crossed kick, then normal pace low (R) kick Forwards travelling step slipping one foot beneath the other Join feet together

Dances of France and Burgundy

17

Notes

At the start of each step in a galliard there is a small leap (Petit saut or j), which is included as part of the step unless it specifically states otherwise. For example, to do a kL, make a small leap onto the right foot (j) at the same time as kicking the left foot forwards slightly in a low kick (kL). In learning some galliards it is frequently easier to have a small chant or "mantra" to go with the galliard. This can be recited quickly while making the steps. For an example of this, see the "overfoot variation" on the next page, which can be quite difficult to learn, but is much easier with the mantra.

Five Step Galliard Figures

Each of these motions give rise to one or more galliard figures. They can be performed either moving forward, partners holding inner hands, for processing about the hall, or as a counterpassing variation if room is limited or expertise in elaborate steps is to be demonstrated. Each of these galliard figures is shown starting on the left foot. In each case the second set of the figure should be repeated in the same way as the first set, reversing Right & Left. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Cinq-pas (five step) Ruade-Entretaille Ru de Vache Pied Croise Campanello kL kR kL kR CSL HkL KR HkL KR CSL. This is the French "bell-step" from Orchesography. CkL CkL CkL CkL CSL PcL PcL PcR PcR CSR BkL BkL BkL BkL CSR The Italian Little Bell step. Execute this pattern with partner's (L) sides opposed. Note: one Bk (L) = k & Hk in one beat. FlL FlR CSL SfL SfR CSL kL PcR HkL kR CSL mantra: "kick cross back kick change".

6. 7. 8.

Fleuret Side-crossed Fleuret Over-foot variation

It is possible to choreograph your own galliard using specific patterns of galliard variations. This example I saw listed as the Earl of Salisbury Galliard. 1. 2. 3. 4. (16 (16 A. B. (16 A. B. (16 A. B. measures) measures) measures) measures) Cinq-pas counterpassing (twice) Pied Croise. Cinq-pas counterpassing (once) Overfoot variation Cinq-pas counterpassing (once) Side-crossed fleuret Cinq-pas counterpassing (once)

18

Other French Dances

Eleven Step Galliard Figures

Instead of dancing each 6 beat galliard measure as one sequence of 5 steps, and then reversing the steps for the next 6 beats, a galliard sequence can be derived by taking 2 measures of 6 beats each, and performing 11 steps in the 2 measures. At the end of the first measure, instead of performing a cadence followed by a posture for 2 beats, each beat is used for a single step. The cadence and posture are done at the end of each second measure only. Therefore, 6 steps are done in the first measure, and 5 in the second measure for a total of 11 steps. Some of these variations are simple extensions of the 5 step galliards. These are the easiest to perform, because the 5 step sequence is just extended for a further measure before the cadence: 1. 2. 3. Onze-pas (eleven step) kL kR kL kR kL kR kL kR kL kR CSL Fleuret FlL FlR FlL FlR CSL Side crossed Fleuret SfL SfR SfL SfR CSL

Other eleven step galliards are more complex, being formed from larger combinations of the galliard steps: 4. (From Orchesography) HkR KL HkL KL HkR KL HkL KR HkR KL CSR mantra: back front swing swing back front swing kick swing kick change. (From Orchesography) HkR KL HkR KL PR KR PL KL HkL KL CSR mantra: back front back front down up down up swing swing change.

5.

Dances of France and Burgundy

19

La Volta
This dance is basically a galliard variation, although it can contain other steps. The dance is for a single couple or as many couples as will.

The Steps
VSL -- Volta Step Left The basic La Volta galliard figure is as follows:

1. 2. 3, 4. 5. 6.

kl SL J Pj

Kick Left Step Left Large Leap Feet Together Pause

A right Volta step (VSR) begins with the right foot. Vt -- The Volta Turn 1 2 3-6 kL SL Leap and spin. Kick Left Step Left

How to do the Leap and Spin

Body Position This is something best shown, not learned from a book, but here are some notes on how I do the leap and spin in the Volta: Firstly, the man and lady must be standing close together touching at the hips. The lady will need to be close enough to sit on the man's thigh. This can be done with the lady on the man's left side (improper position), or the lady on the man's right side (proper position). Whether you do this proper or improper is up to you. Arbeau first describes the turn done improper, and then says it can also be done proper. The iconographic evidence from the period (paintings of couples dancing La Volta) show the dance being done in either stance, although this could be a matter of artistic license as much as anything else. My recommendation (and this may not work for everyone) is that the turn works best done proper if the man is right-handed, and improper if the man is left-handed.

20 Hand holds

Other French Dances There are a couple of possible hand-holds. These are as follows:

Arbeau says that the man holds the lady by the back, and by the busk point at the front of her gown. The lady places one arm across the man's back and holds his shoulder, and uses the other to steady her skirts. Of course this only works if the lady is wearing a gown that has a useful busk point. Where the lady is tall enough relative to the man (and the important thing is her body length relative to his, and that her arms are long enough), the lady puts her near-side arm across the man's shoulders, and brings her other arm across in front of the man's shoulders to hold her near side hand. In doing this she will put her weight onto the mans shoulders. The man will put his near side arm around the lady's waist, and places his hand on her hip. The man takes the lady's near side hand (now on his shoulder) in his other hand, and pulls down on it slightly to lock her into place. Where the lady is taller than the man (especially if there is a considerable height difference at the hips), then she can extend her left arm past the man's shoulders and take it with her right hand, across the front of his body. This will help her put more of her weight onto the man's shoulders, which makes the lift easier from the man's point of view. A shorter lady will need to place her near side hand on the man's near side shoulder, and use this to lift. Her other hand can be used to hold her skirts in place. This keeps the lady more upright but does require more lifting effort on the part of the man (with his leg), so really only works where the center of gravity is closer to the man. The lady should still take care to push down on the man's near side shoulder as she leaps and is lifted by him. Where the man is much taller and/or heavier than the lady, he may need to use his far side hand to help with the lift. He can do this by reaching across his body and placing this hand under her skirts as she leaps.

The hand hold that you use will normally be dictated by the height and weight difference between the man and the lady. Experiment with these different holds until you find one that works for you and your partner. The idea behind the hand hold is to transfer as much weight as possible onto the man's shoulders during the spin. Physiologically, men are much better equipped to carry weight on their shoulders than they are on their hips relative to ladies. The knee lift The man basically at this point will be lifting the lady by his near side leg. I will describe this from the point of a right-handed man dancing in proper position reverse left and right in the section below if you are dancing improper. The man turns his right knee outwards, and lifts his right leg, so that the lady sits on his right thigh. The man makes sure that his weight is on his left leg after stepping forwards on to it this then becomes the pivot point for the dancers as they complete the turn. The lady leaps, and the man uses his arm, leg, and shoulders to lift her, and the couple spins. The man should then turn through 270 keeping the couple balanced on his left leg while doing so.

Dances of France and Burgundy Some points to note about the leap and spin: The man should not bring his right leg up too quickly or else he will end up kicking the lady in the backside!. He should bring his leg up slowly underneath her and allow her to sit on it.

21

The man may need to use his left arm for balance this is usually the case where the lady is heavier than the man. All of the above takes a lot of practice do this dance with a partner you are familiar with! Height, weight, and balance Depending on the relative height and centers of gravity of the man and lady, the man may need to bend his left leg more to get his right thigh up and under the lady. A tall man will need to bend his left knee quite a lot to get his right leg under a short lady.

A Basic Volta
The Sequence A basic volta sequence is to do four volta steps forwards, then four volta turns. This is repeated until the end of the music.

Maeve's Coronation Volta

This volta was choreographed by Maeve ni Iaschata for the first Coronation in the Kingdom of Lochac. It is for 2 dancers, starting side by side. 14 Vt x 4 The man and the lady independently (i.e. Not in the turn position) do four volta turns. The man starts by hopping forwards and making a turn over his left shoulder to end in front of his starting position and facing right. The lady starts by hopping into the man's place and making a turn to face forwards. Then continue this 3 more times to end up back in place. Galliard sequence: kick swing change swing change. End with a cadenza and taking positions for a volta turn. 4 volta turns. Dropping back to proper position, the man and lady independently do a volta turn, diagonally outwards away from each other. Independently do a volta turn diagonally back in towards each other 4 volta turns. Repeat the earlier galliard sequence from bar 5. Repeat the entire dance.

5 69 10

HkL kR HkR jL Cadenza Vt x 4 Vt

11 12 15 16 17 32

Vt Vt x 4 HkL kR HkR jL Cadenza Repeat

22

Other French Dances

Courantes
Courantes are another type of early period dance. Courantes are documented in Arbeau's Orchesography although there are many sources for Courante (or Coranto) music, and a few modern scholars have choreographed their own versions. One of these is presented here. Steps Courantes are danced with their own style of steps, being courante steps. These are singles and doubles done with hops in them. All of the Courante steps can be done sideways (in which case the notation indicated will be used), or forwards (in which case the notation SLcf/DLcf/SRcf/DRcf will be used), or backwards (in which case the notation SLcb/SRcb/SRcb/DRcb will be used). SLc -- Courante Single Left (2 beats) 1 2 JL SL JR and close Preliminary hop, bringing your left foot into the air. Step on to your left foot. Slight hop on left foot, and bring your right foot up towards your left foot, landing with feet together. Preliminary hop on your right foot. Step on to your left foot. Hop on your left foot. Step on to your right foot. Hop on your right foot. Step on to your left foot. Slight hop on your left foot, and bring your right foot up towards your left foot landing with feet together.

DLc -- Courante Double Left (4 beats)

JL SL JR SR JL SL JR and close

2 3 4

SRc/DRc -Courante Single/Double Right Rv -- Reverance

These steps are done in the same way as the Singles and Doubles Left, except with the feet reversed.

A simple French Reverance, as used for French Basse Danses and Bransles is used.

Dances of France and Burgundy

23

Courante a la Lochac
Dancers begin in a single line, with couples standing side by side.

Introduction Theme

1-4

SLc SRc

End by dropping hands.

In this section, the men and the ladies dance at the same time. 1-8 1-8 9 - 12 13 - 20 13 - 20 21 - 24 21 - 24 25 - 28 25 - 28 25 - 28 Men DLc DRc Ladies DLcf DRcf Both SLc SRc Men DLcf DRcf Ladies DLc DRc Men DLc Ladies Men DRc Ladies Men The men perform a double left to the left side, then right to the right side. The ladies dance forwards with a double left then a double right, away from the men, to end up facing away from them. Both dance a single left then right side to side. The men dance forwards, to finish behind the ladies. While the men are dancing up behind them, the ladies dance side to side. The men move to the ladies' left and finish facing the ladies' left. Do not move, look away from the men, to the right. The men dance back around to the right, finishing to the ladies' right. Do not move, look away from the men, to the left. Do a half turn over your left shoulder to face the other way.

Repeat the above section, with the ladies acting in the way of the men, and the men acting in the way of the ladies, as follows: 29 - 36 29 - 36 37 - 40 41 - 48 41 - 48 49 - 52 49 - 52 53 - 56 53 - 56 Ladies DLc DRc Men DLcf DRcf Both SLc SRc Ladies DLcf DRcf Men DLc DRc Ladies DLc Men Ladies DRc Men End this sequence with a half turn over your left shoulder to face the backs of the men. End this sequence with your backs to the ladies. Both dance a single left then right side to side. The ladies dance forwards, to finish behind the men. While the ladies are dancing up behind them, the men dance side to side. The ladies move to the men's left. Do not move, look away from the ladies, to the right. The ladies dance back around to the men's right. Turn to face the ladies, and reverance

24

Other French Dances

French Basse Danse

The most easily accessible source for French Basse Danse material is the Orchesography of Thoinot Arbeau. There are a number of basse danse books and manuscripts, which give more information than Orchesographie.4 Arbeau gives the music for only one Basse Danse, being Jouyssance Vous Donneray. However, it does make the statement that Basse Danses fall into two main categories, being regular and irregular. Jouyssance Vous Donneray is a regular basse danse, Arbeau gives the steps for several of the irregular basse danses, the music can be obtained from various sources of the period. Arbeau's distinction between a regular Basse Danse and an irregular one is that for a regular Basse Danse the main part of the dance (excluding the retour) contains 80 bars (20 quaternions). In each 4 bars (one quaternion) the dancers perform either a double, two singles, a Reprise, or a Branle. In the Basse Dance Jouyssance vous Donneray, there are 80 bars to the main part of the dance, and 48 to the retour, therefore it is a regular Basse Danse. Patience also has 80 bars, but Arbeau explains that this is an irregular Basse Danse anyway, without stating why. Three of the irregular Basse Danses are shown here. These Basse Danses are given for interest's sake only. Arbeau states that they were rarely danced, and only dancers who wanted to show off their memory skills (and no doubt endurance) would request one of these dances at a ball. Each of these dances (as well as Jouyssance) concludes with a Conge. This is a brief (1-beat reverance), done by facing in to your partner by swivelling your feet, and giving a quick nod of the head, also bending very briefly and slightly at the knees and the waist. Confortez-moi Rv Br SS D SS Rp Br SS D SS Rp Br SS DDD SS Rp Br SS D SS Rp Br Conge Toute Frelorei Rv Br SS D SS Rp Br SS DDD SS Rp Br Conge

Including Arena, "Ad suos ...", which I really must have a proper read of someday! I don't care much for his style of writing, however, which is a bit hard on someone whose cognitive science is 400 years out of date.

Dances of France and Burgundy Patience Rv Br SS D Rp D SS Rp Br SS DDD Rp Br SS D SS Rp Br Conge

25

Basse Danse Steps

SL/SR/DL/DR Single/Double Left/Right These steps are all done moving forwards in the same way as for a pavan. Where a SL is followed by a SR, the two steps are done together, in one flowing motion, and not as two separate steps. Two singles, or one double, are done to 4 bars, or one quaternion. The reverance for a Basse Danse is done to four bars. It is basically a longish bow to your partner, moving one foot back, and bending forwards at the waist. Branle comes from a French word meaning to move from side to side. Here is how the Branle is done according to Arbeau: On the first bar, turn the body to the left. On the second bar, turn back to the right, glancing outwards at the spectators On the third bar, turn back out to the left On the fourth bar, turn back to the right, glancing towards your partner. The movements are done with the body only, keeping the feet together. Rp -- Reprise A reprise in the French Basse Danse is done in four bars. There are several different versions of the reprise floating about, here is my interpretation of what Arbeau says: On the first bar, the dancers raise their right foot very slightly, and shake their feet as if shaking the snow off their boots. On the second bar, repeat the above with the right foot. On the third bar repeat the above, but this time with the left foot. On the fourth bar repeat the above with the right foot once again.

Rv -- Reverance

Br Branle

26

Other French Dances

Jouyssance Vous Donneray

This is a more complex Basse Danse than some, and certainly more complex than the majority of the French and Burgundian dances shown here. The dance consists of two parts, the main Basse Danse and a Retour. Each part concludes with a Conge, or brief (1 bar) reverance, done to a high point in the music. The Basse Danse sequence is: Rv Br SL SR SL SR SL SR Conge Br SL SR Conge

DL DL DR DL DL

Rp DL Rp DL

Rp Br Rp Br Rp Br

The Retour is:

DL DL DR DL

Rp DL

Rp Br Rp Br

Laid out as above, the dance is a little easier to remember. The main dance sequence consists of Single-Single-Double-Reprise-Double-RepriseBranle. If you can remember this, then starting with the Reverance and the initial Branle, the dance becomes this: 1. Dance sequence. 2. Dance sequence with two extra doubles inserted. 3. Dance sequence with a Reprise-Double removed. 4. Conge. 5. Double-Reprise-Branle sequence. (The last three bits of a dance sequence). 6. Dance sequence with two extra doubles inserted. (The same as 2). 7. Conge.

Dances of France and Burgundy

27

Burgundian Basse Danse

Sources
Brussels and Tholouze Burgundian Basse Danses appear in a number of sources. The earliest of these are the manuscript in Bibliotheque Royale (Ms 9085), usually called "The Brussels Manuscript"; and the book by Michel Tholouze. These two appeared in the period 1480 - 1500, although dances from these works appeared in the flyleaf "Ballet de la Royne" in 1445, indicating that Basse Dances had been danced in Burgundy for approximately as long as they had been danced in Italy. The next two important sources are the book from the press of Moderne, and Robert Copeland's "The manner of dauncynge bace daunces". Although the latter was published in England, it is a translation of a French text (unknown), and lists dances in the Burgundian style. There is a difference between the early two sources and the later two sources in the naming of the "reprise" or "demarche" step. The early works call the step a demarche, while the later two books call it a reprise. Modernes dance descriptions also vary significantly from those in Brussels, Tholouze, and Copeland. This suggests that the English Copeland manuscript is in fact closer in style to the two earlier Burgundian manuscripts than Moderne is.

Moderne and Copeland

28

Burgundian Basse Danse

Measures
Moderne's Basse Dance Measures All of the Burgundian works call for a very rigid style of "regular" basse dances. These regular dances are made up of measures which are classified as "small", "medium", or "large", as well as "perfect" or "imperfect". Moderne gives us a fairly contradictory and illogical table, as follows: Perfect Rv Br SS D R Br Rv Br SS DDD SS R Br Rv Br SS DDD SS R D SS R Br Imperfect Rv Br SS D SS R Br Rv Br SS D R Br Rv Br SS DDD R D R Br

Small Medium Large Brussels Manuscript Basse Dance Measures

Brussels and Tholouze have a different set of measures, these are much more logical:

Small Medium Large

Very Perfect SS D SS RRR Br SS DDD SS RRR Br SS DDDDD SS RRR Br

Perfect SS D SS R Br SS DDD SS R Br SS DDDDD SS R Br

Imperfect SS D RRR Br SS DDD RRR Br SS DDDDD RRR Br

Note that the Brussels Manuscript does not explicitly name the measures as "small", "medium" or "large", although it is obvious from the choreographies that there are measures with one, three, or five double steps, and so I have categorised them this way myself. The regular dances, which can be performed using measures from these tables) form about three quarters of the dances in these books. The rest of the dances in the books are irregular basse dances, as well as "basse dance mineur", which diverge from the standard "formula" (and are more interesting to dance).

Dances of France and Burgundy

29

Step Descriptions & Timing

S -- Single and D -Double The single and double steps used in the Burgundian Basse Danses are done as open steps, as opposed to the French and Italian styles of the period in which the steps are done as closed steps. That means, a single step is just a step forwards on the left foot, and a single right is done as a step forwards onto the right foot. This is similar to the passi of the 16th century Italian dances. A double left is done in 6 beats as follows: 1-2 3-4 5-6 Timing Step forwards on the left foot, rising into the balls of the feet. Step forwards onto the right foot, staying up on the balls of the feet. Step forwards onto the left foot, lowering back onto the heels.

Note that in the Burgundian dances, each double takes one bar of 6/4 time, and two singles are also done in one bar. The manuscripts are not clear as to whether these dances should start on the left or on the right foot. Tholouze and Brussels make some mention that the first sequence of doubles should start on the left foot, but opinions vary on whether the opening reverance and bransle are done this way. Some dance groups do the entire set of Burgundian basse danses on opposite feet, i.e. the man starts the dance on the left foot, and the lady starts the dance on the right foot. There is really no "correct" or "incorrect" way to do this -- it is up to the individual dance group to set (or not set) a standard. I have therefore not included the foot after each of the dance steps -- singles are given as "S" rather than "SL" or "SR", etc. Holding hands, the dancers take a single step away from each other without joining feet together, and then step back towards the partner, joining feet together again. Look towards your partner as you do this. A Demarche is called for in the Burgundian Basse Dances of the early manuscripts (Tolouse and Brussels), in the place of a Reprise which occurred in the later manuscripts (Moderne). In some cases, the same dance was reprinted, with the Demarches replaced by Reprises. Tolouse & Brussels abbreviated the Demarche with an "r", which adds to the confusion. A Demarche is done to the same time as a double. For the right foot demarche, step back on the right foot on the first beat. On the second beat, sway forwards, moving your weight onto the front (left) foot. On the third beat, sway backwards, moving your weight onto the back (right) foot. On the fourth beat, close feet, stepping backwards with the left foot. Effectively, you will have taken a single step backwards to the same time as a double step backwards.

Left and Right foot

Br -- Branle

R -- Demarche

Rv -- Reverance

The jury is definitely still out on this step. It is either the same as a French reverance, or it is just another way of specifying a Demarche. Take your pick.

30

Burgundian Basse Danse

Regular and Irregular Basse Danses

There are approximately 50 regular basse dances in the Brussels and Tholouze Manuscripts, some appearing more than once, sometimes with different names and sometimes to different pieces of music. Once the various perfect/imperfect measures are learned, the regular dances themselves are trivial. The irregular dances appear in most cases to be only slightly different to the regular dances. Some of these have a short SS D R or SS D R D R B measure included in them, while others diverge from the regular basse danse formula somewhat more radically. Here are a few examples. Alenchon Rv Br SS SS SS SS DR DDD SS RRR Br D SS RRR Br DDD SS RRR Br

(Medium, Very Perfect) (Small, Very Perfect (Medium, Very Perfect) (Large, Imperfect) (Small, Very Perfect) (Large, Imperfect) (Small, Very Perfect) (Medium, Imperfect) (Large, Imperfect) (Large, Imperfect) (Medium, Imperfect)

Casuelle La Nouvelle

Rv Br

SS DDDDD RRR Br SS SS SS SS D SS RRR Br DDDDD RRR Br D SS RRR Br DDD RRR Br DDDDDRRR D R D R Br DDDDDRRR D R D R Br D D D R R R Br

Le Rosin

Rv Br

SS Br SS SS Br SS SS

Orleans

Rv Br

SS D R Br SS D SS D SS D

D D D D SS R R (Large, Very Perfect) D D R R R Br SS R R R Br D D R R R Br (Medium, Imperfect) (Small, Very Perfect) (Medium, Imperfect)

Dances of France and Burgundy

31

La Danse de Cleves
This is an irregular basse danse, appearing in the Brussels Manuscript. It is a very unusual basse danse in that there are parts of the dance that do not simply go forwards (unlike every other basse danse except the basse danse mineur). There are also several possible reconstructions floating about, mostly due to the fact that part of the dance notation is missing from the manuscript. It is, however, fairly interesting and this is one of my favourites. Part A Part B Rv Br SS DDD SS D (retreating) The man does two singles forwards and a double backwards while the lady turns in place, as follows: Man: Lady: SS Forwards D Retreating SS turning to the right (half turn). D (completing the full turn to the right).

The roles are then reversed: Man: Lady: SS turning to the right (half turn). D (completing the full turn to the right). SS Forwards D Retreating D forwards D making a half turn in place D forwards SS D making a half turn in place

Part C

Rv Br SS

Part D Part E

This is a repeat of Part B SS DDD Conge

32

Burgundian Basse Danse

Basse Danse Mineur

Basse danse mineur was a slightly different form of basse danse found in Burgundy (and nowhere else). No great study of basse danse mineur has been made, because nobody really knows what a Pas de Brabant is. Cornazano equates the Pas de Brabant step of the Burgundian dances with the Saltarello step of the Italian dances. It is also possible that the Pas de Brabant step was done in a similar manner to that of a tourdion. I leave it up to the imagination of the reader -- listen to the music and see what you can fit in. Maybe someone will find out a definitive answer one day. The other major difference that sets aside basse danse mineur from regular or irregular basse danses is that it never starts with a reverance, just a branle. This may seem like a minor difference -- but it must have been a great difference in the minds of the Burgundians.

Esperance de Bourbon
This dance appears in Tholouze and Brussels. Pas de Brabant A B C 6 6 6 6 4 4 Pas Pas Pas Pas Pas Pas de de de de de de brabant. brabant brabant brabant brabant. brabant Both together Repeat Man only. Lady only Both together Repeat (Medium, Very Perfect) (Small, Very Perfect)

Basse Danse

Br SS DDD SS RRR Br SS D SS RRR Br