England Archives – The Historical Dance Society

21May 2024 by David Parsons

A History of Country Dancing – Origins

Dance history

Anne Daye, HDS Director of Education and Research Origins I propose that the country dance evolved from the communal dances by a line of people. These still exist in local practice all over Europe, such as the carole (sung and danced), cousin to the kolo of Yugoslavia, hora of Rumania, horo of Bulgaria, the khorovod of Russia and la danza grande of Northern Spain. With a repetitive step pattern, the line travels onward guided by a leader, passing through the streets of the town, forming circles, spirals and weaving patterns in open places. Such a line can easily form into pairs to make further interactive patterns down the line. Two good examples of this genre in an elite setting are La Chiaranzana (described by Fabritio Caroso, dancing master of Rome,…

21May 2024 by David Parsons

A History of Country Dancing – Introduction

Dance history

A History of Country Dancingwith an emphasis on the steps Anne Daye, HDS Director of Education and Research Introduction A complete history of the country dance has yet to be written, and would form a major challenge. Here you will find an overview of the country dance from the 16th to 19th centuries, as a framework for discussion of the changing steps with which it was danced. The term ‘country dance’ is first recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary in the play Misogonus Act 2 scene iv, printed in 1577. This implies that the genre was well known at the time; if the play was written in 1560, then we can assume that the country dance was a well-established genre by the middle of the sixteenth century. The English measures…

26Apr 2024 by David Parsons

Day course: Dance like a Tudor

Events, For dancers

An introduction to dances of Queen Elizabeth’s court Saturday 5th October 2024 10.30 – 16.30 St Pancras Church House, 1 Lancing Street, London NW1 1NA Teachers: Ann Hinchliffe and Helen Young What kind of dances did the Tudor court enjoy? Was dance important at the Tudor court? What were the dances mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays? What was a brawl, a pavan, a galliard or a coranto? Where and what did ordinary people dance? Find the answers at this practical day workshop with two experienced historical dance teachers. All the dances are based on extensive research into dance books and manuscripts of the time. You will experience some "English Measures" from sources associated with the the Inns of Court manuscripts – dances such as the pavan, almain, coranto, and galliard –…

02Apr 2024 by David Parsons

The Early Dance Circle Conference 2024

Other

The Early Dance Circle (EDC) Biennial Conference will be held 10-12 May 2024. The Conference brings together international specialists on historical dance topics spanning six centuries of dance history in the delightful surroundings of St Katharine’s Retreat House, Parmoor, Frieth, RG9 6NN, near High Wycombe. The theme for the 2024 gathering is Recovering Historical Dance: “We don’t reproduce the past, we create it” (Hilary Mantel). You can find more details at https://www.earlydancecircle.co.uk/events/#Conference

08Jul 2023 by David Parsons

New book and CDs: Dances of Fashionable Society

For dancers, News, Other

Dances of Fashionable Society: Cotillons, Quadrilles, Country Dances, Couple Dances and a Solo 1762 – 1887, a book and two CD set by Ellis and Christine Rogers, is now available in the HDS shop as a physical product or download. For this new book they have re-visited the dances they previously researched for HDS summer schools and selected Ellis’s favourites. The hope is that they will enthuse dancers to follow in his footsteps and pass them on to others. HDS Shop

26May 2023 by David Parsons

Dances of Fashionable Society

For dancers, Past events

Cotillons, quadrilles and country dances from the ballrooms and dance halls of Georgian and Victorian England St Pancras Church Hall, 1 Lancing Street, London, NW1 1NA. (Off Eversholt Street, beside Euston Station. Ring doorbell for entry.) Saturday 23rd September 2023 10.30 – 4.30 (arrival from 10.15) The workshop is led by Libby Curzon of Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom to launch the publication by the Historical Dance Society of Dances of Fashionable Society by Ellis and Christine Rogers. This book and CD is a compilation by Ellis of his favourite dances originally taught at [D]HDS Summer Schools. Ellis Rogers Ellis Rogers Highly regarded teacher and researcher of nineteenth century dancing, founder with his wife Christine of Quadrille Club and author of The Quadrille. For full information on his achievements, see https://quadrilles.uk Libby Curzon As well as running Mrs Bennet’s…

27Oct 2022 by David Parsons

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

For dancers, For musicians, Past events

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…

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…

28Jun 2013 by EmilyBowen

Study Forum 1: Reconstructing Technique – Creating Performance (2013)

Conference publications

Goldsmiths, University of London, 23-24 March 2013 Two days of practical workshops and presentations, guided by leading researchers, teachers and performers. Due to the practical nature of most of the sessions, the proceedings were not published. One of the papers is available to download Roger Clegg, Lucie Skeaping and Anne Daye – Singing Simpkin and other Bawdy Jigs: Recuperating the Song-and-Dance Comedies on the Shakespearean Stage (paper and workshop) Paul and Ann Kent – Ever to Endure: Recreating Dances from the Gresley Manuscript (workshop) Ilona Taure – Bringing the Castle to Life: dance at Bauska Castle, Latvia (presentation) Download Jennifer Kiek – "... and winding heys to tread": an Exploration of Possible Interpretations of the S. Hey in Country Dances from Playford 1651 (workshop) Jennifer Thorp – Revisiting Le Palais…

28Jun 2009 by EmilyBowen

On Common Ground 7: Kings and Commoners: Dances of Display for Court, City and Country (2009)

Conference publications

All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, St Albans, 28-29 March 2009 All the papers are available to download. Anne Daye – Dancing for King and Country: the Jacobean Court Dancer Download Hazel Dennison – Dancing the Barbarian (workshop) Download Maëlle Amand – The Distorted Representations of Dance in Eighteenth-Century Britain: a Study of Parody and Caricature Download Moira Goff – Edmund Pemberton and the Improvement of Dancing Download Barbara Segal – The Hornpipe: a Dance for Kings, Commoners and Comedians (workshop) Download Ann and Paul Kent – Bransles for Display? Download Jørgen Schou-Pedersen – Dances for a Royal Danish Masquerade Download

28Jun 2007 by EmilyBowen

On Common Ground 6: The Minuet in Time and Space (2007)

Conference publications

All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, St Albans - 10-11 March 2007 The conference explored the essential dance of the 18th century, as a solo and a duet, from the 1700s to the 1900s, from the ballroom to the stage and even the silver screen. As well as listening to papers, participants experienced the variety of the minuet in several workshops. Most of the papers are available to download. Teresa Buckland – Keynote Lecture: The world we have lost: minuets and the past in late Victorian culture (not published in proceedings) Moira Goff – Seductive Decorum: the Solo Minuet for a Girl (Workshop) Download Grainne McArdle – The Minuet in Early Eighteenth-Century Dublin Society Download Giles Bennett – The Minuet in 18th-Century Dance Treatises (Workshop) Download Elizabeth Aldrich – Drooping…

28Jun 2005 by EmilyBowen

On Common Ground 5: Dance in Drama, Drama in Dance (2005)

Conference publications

Cecil Sharp House, London, 12 March 2005. All of the papers are available to download. Jeremy Barlow – But at present keep your own secret: Dances in The Beggar's Opera Download Anne Daye – Character in action in the seventeenth-century antimaque Download Hazel Dennison – The significance of drama created through gesture in European dance sources 1450-1720 Download Moria Goff – Weaver, words and dancing in The Judgement of Paris Download Jennifer Kiek – We'll have a crash here in the yard! English country dance in early modern stage plays.Not included in the printed proceedings Download Cecilia Nocilli – La presa di Granata and Il Tronfo de la Fama: the dance in the farces of Iacopo Sannazaro (1492) Download Jennifer Thorp – Drama and dance in Le Ballet de la…

28Jun 2003 by EmilyBowen

On Common Ground 4: The Problems of Reconstruction and Re-creation in Dance (2003)

Conference publications

Cecil Sharp House, London, 29 March 2003 The conference provided an opportunity for scholars and practitioners to discuss with colleagues the issues strategies, results and rationales for reconstruction and re-creation in historical dance. The one-day conference attracted over 60 participants from Britain, continental Europe and the USA to explore the problems of reconstructing dances from verbal descriptions and notated scores, and the value of re-creating dances from contextual information. The speakers presented case studies spanning the period from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. Most of the papers are available to download. Patri J. Pugliese – Dancing and fencing from the Renaissance to the 19th century Download Diana Cruickshank – Theres many a slip: the interpretation of 15th-century Italian dance Download David Wilson – Problems and possible solutions in…

28Jun 1998 by EmilyBowen

On Common Ground 2: Continuity and Change (1998)

Conference publications

London, 14 March 1998 The conference explored the concepts of continuity and change as seen in the sources for historical dance, and in current research, re-creation and performance. All of the papers are available to download. Barbara Sparti – Early Dance research and performance: past, present and future (Keynote paper) Download Hazel Dennison – Beyond the ballroom: dance as theatre art in 15th-century Europe Download Michael E. Lutz – Continuity and change within the two dance treatises of Fabritio Caroso Download Diana Cruickshank – Caroso's two versions of 'Allegrezza d'Amore' Download Jennifer Thorp – The effectiveness of Beauchamp-Feuillet notation as a means of recording dance in the eigtheenth century Download Helene Kázarová – One music - two dances: Sarabande by Lully Download Madeleine Inglehearn – Queen Anne's dancing master Download…

Tag: England