For musicians Archives – The Historical Dance Society

27Oct 2022 by David Parsons

Shakespeare’s Dances: a celebration of dance, music and costume

Held online on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November 2022 The Historical Dance Society is bringing together renowned historians, researchers and practitioners to enjoy a weekend of Shakespeare-themed activities. References to dances and dancing appear throughout Shakespeare's plays. This weekend explores the dances, dance music and costumes that were familiar to Shakespeare and his circle. Learn how to dance a MeasureFind out how dances are interpreted and staged in productions of Shakespeare's playsExplore the hats, headwear and clothing of the timeDiscover the exciting Shakespeare and Dance ProjectFind out about creating music with limited resources in Shakespeare's timeFocus on non-social dancing and dance for performance in Shakespeare's playsDiscover how dance can be made dramatic in the dramas Relax and enjoy A Shakespeare Revel on Saturday evening (GMT) with dancing, music, readings and other delights. You…

26Sep 2020 by EmilyBowen

Playford Then & Now Festival

For dancers, For musicians, Past events

Following the success of the HDS Webinar Talks and the Online Dance Tutorials – both of which can be found on our YouTube channel – we’re delighted to announce the HDS Playford Weekend Festival – Playford, Then and Now. The enduring popularity of Playford dances and their music from the first edition published in 1651 to the 18th edition in 1728, is a treasure chest for folk dancers, historical dancers, musicians and researchers. Festival sessions will feature talks on a variety of related topics as well as a dance workshop, with renowned speakers from the UK and overseas. Playford – Then and Now – an Online festival via Zoom The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of his continuing success today through dances, bands, his London, his contemporaries, and choreography Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th…

24Apr 2020 by EmilyBowen

Baroque period

Dance history, Education, For dancers, For musicians

Following the foundation of the Académie royale de danse in 1661, Louis XIV ordered academicians to invent a notational system to record dances. In response, at least four systems were in progress in the 1680s, one of which came to disseminate dances of French style across Europe by means of printing/publishing businesses. This prevalent system is called Beauchamp-Feuillet notation today after the names of the inventor/academician, Pierre Beauchamp, and the business man/dancing-master, Raoul-Auger Feuillet. Over 350 dances are extant in this notation system in print and/or manuscript spanning the late 17th to mid-18th centuries, a period roughly matching the baroque era classified in other disciplines (those in the late 18th-century sources are re-notations of earlier publications, except Auguste F. J. Ferrère’s manuscript of theatre production from 1782). Whereas the baroque style in other art…

16Feb 2020 by EmilyBowen

Live music for early dance

Education, For musicians

The question has occasionally been voiced: “Why are historical dancers so reluctant to use live music?” So often they seem to prefer the recorded sound that emanates at the touch of a button, or click of a mouse, from their digital sound system. For musicians, who spend so much of their time, money and energy on practising their obscure but ‘authentic’ instruments, this rejection is both puzzling and hurtful. Why don’t they like us? What do we have to do to make them like us, at least to the extent that they are willing to let us join in their jolly dancing games? This note is a partial attempt at trying to understand the conundrum. Firstly, is the complaint true? To some extent, yes. At the most recent EDC festival…

16Feb 2020 by EmilyBowen

Tips to encourage the use of live music for historic dance

Education, For dancers, For musicians

Many historical performances of dance impress greatly with the meticulous research, careful practice, attention to style, and accurate costumes only to disappoint when a member of the group (or if lucky, a clued in helper) rushes over to press the button for music. Sometimes there ensues a ghastly pause, or even the strains of the wrong music; if correct, at a volume too loud or soft, or distortion from a less than perfect sound system for the performance space. Music is integral to dance, and for historic dance, that meant live musicians, so to present a performance with canned music is clearly an anachronism. The following tips are intended to try to address some of the issues that lead to this being such common situation – the perceived lack of…

16Nov 2019 by David Parsons

Stepping On: A Conference on Stepping in Dance across the British Isles and Beyond

Conference publications, For dancers, For musicians, Other, Past events

16 - 17 November 2019 Cecil Sharp House, London, UK The British Isles have a rich history of step dancing in many forms and in many forms and contexts, spanning centuries and linking with traditions across the world. Some of these dances and their histories are relatively well-known, others largely lost. The aim of the conference was to further our knowledge and understanding in these traditions and to stimulate debate. Download the proceedings from the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Download PDF Buy the printed proceedings from the EFDSS Buy Papers In Search of ‘Street’ Clog Dance. Alexandra Fisher Ontario Old–Time Step Dancing and its Connections to the British Isles. Sherry Johnson How fast should we dance: An investigation using recordings. Sean Goddard Hornpipe stepping at barn dances and ceilidhs in…

Category: For musicians