A quick guide to dance history Dancing Through Time!!! A quick guide to dance history

Types of Dance A. Social B. Folk/Religious C. Performance

Folk/Religious Dance 1. Gift to the gods 2. Links to nature 3. Storytelling 4. Courtship rituals 5. Procreation rituals

Dance Beginnings Hunters A. ______ danced before going to the hunt B. ______ danced before war Tribes danced to ward off evil spirits, bring fertility, celebrate harvest, rain Warriors

Greeks

Greeks Emphasis on symbolism of dance rather than skill Religious emphasis/_______________ Mythology

Religious emphasis/ Mythology 1. Terpsichore was muse of _________ (watched over the dance) 2. Dionysus was god of dance a. worshipers often participated in ________ and frantic dances b. these types of dances would become the basis for theatrical Grecian dance dance wild

Greeks Athens Sparta Whole of society danced (small children to elderly) 1. Males danced (especially in ____________ and _____________) a. to demonstrate military prowess b. to give honor to nature c. to frighten evil spirits 2. Theatrical dance evolved Athens Sparta

Romans

Romans Dance paganistic; based on celebration of the _________ B. Popular socially for a short while C. _____________ planets Pantomime

Medieval Dance

Medieval Societal Dance 1. denounced by __________ participated in by ________ at street festivals 3. participated in by _______ and ________ at castles priests peasants lords ladies

Medieval Societal Dance 4. used as entertainment sponsored by medieval guilds (usually festivals) a. use of fantastic ___________ during street processions b. social dances at end of procession at private homes/inns (I) ductia was a dance of the ________ (II) stantipes was intended to keep thoughts from straying (III) accompanied by flute, lute, and stringed instruments c. some dances only members of the guild were allowed to do costumes wealthy

Medieval Societal Dance Bal des Ardents of 1393: particular palace dance; all dancers except one king (Charles VI) died

Medieval Dance B. Subjects of dances 1. moresca- bizarre movements; participants wore ________ or blackened faces a. exotic look b. solo and circle dances c. some imitated mock battles (mainly reflecting battles of Christians and Moors in Spain) d. some symbolized folk tradition 2. dance of death- __________ leading mortals of every social status in a dance masks death

Renaissance

Renaissance V. Italian dance (Renaissance) A. Court dances B. The First Ballets 1. first dance masters appeared in Italy around 1400 2. ballet is Italian word from the verb ballare which means “to dance” 3. Italian dance spectacles were lavish and theatrical

The Renaissance French dance A. Italian influences 1. Influenced by Catherine de Medici (mother of King Henri III) 2. Catherine was from Italy and came to France as bride of Henry II

French Dance 3. Catherine de Medici hired Italian choreographer Baldassarino da Belgiojoso (Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx) for entertainment at wedding of Marguerite de Lorraine: he choreographed the Ballet Comique de la Reine a. no ___________ b. audience sat above __________ in galleries c. included recitations and songs d. lasted nearly _______ hours stage performers six

French Dance (Renaissance) B. Renaissance court dances 1. Description a. ornate b. performed by __________ c. much like ballroom dancing of the era d. women’s roles usually performed by _____ in the ballet (however, not on ballroom floor) e. men assigned ____________________; women’s movement was to be _______________ and restrained nobles men jumps and fancy steps light, graceful,

Renaissance Court Dances as the Renaissance progressed, steps became complex (in fact, many dance masters would recommend students practice them holding on to a _____ or tightly stretched ___________--- this is the origin of the ballet barre) dancing seen as art for gentleman (equivalent to riding and fencing) chair rope