Dance Steps

"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music."
-- Agnes de Mile

"If you can't dance, you can't fight" - Lord Cormac Macrae. Company of the Phoenix

  Dance is an important part of what we do in entertaining and educating the public. All members of Phoenix should at least know the basics of the dances we do, as they can help direct both other members and the public even if not dancing themselves.

Most medieval dances are comprised of a verse and chorus structure – just like a song, so once you know the chorus, you only then need to remember the verse sequence to know the entire dance.

 To help members learn the two basic dances we do, they are outlined below.

 Tips for dancing:

1. Ladies on the right, gentlemen on the left
2. Always start with your inside leg
3. Turns are always away from your partner
4. Little steps. It is difficult for ladies in medieval dresses to leap
5. For the gentlemen always look at your Lady adoringly.

The Pavane

 This is a slow and courtly dance, very elegant to watch.

 Chorus

Step with your inside leg (step), bring your outside leg up to meet it (together)

Step, together

Step, step, step, together (these 3 sets together are the basic pavane step)

Step backwards with your inside leg (back), together

Back, together

Back, back, back together

Dance Structure (The Verses)

 Chorus x2

 Verse 1

Gentlemen drop to their knees, still holding the ladies hand

Ladies move around their partners counter-clockwise in two complete pavane sets

(step, together, step, together, step, step, step, together (halfway) step, together, step, together, step, step, step, together

 Chorus

 Verse 2

Gentlemen move around their partners clockwise in two complete pavane sets, whilst ladies clap in time to the beat

 Chorus

 Repeat as necessary, on the final set finish with a bow or curtsey to your partner.

To make the dance progressive, the gentlemen speed up on their final verse and move on to the next lady on the final “step, step, step, together”

The Saltarello

This is a much more lively dance, and has no breaks – you must be ready to move straight into the next verse or chorus instantly.

Chorus

Step with your inside leg (step), hop lightly on that leg as you bring the other leg forward (hop)

Step with your outside foot (step), hop lightly on that leg, bringing the other forward (hop)

Step, step, step, hop

Take a small step away from your partner (out), hop

Take a small step back towards your partner (in), hop

Take a step backward (back), back, back, bring your feet together (together)

Dance Structure (The Verses)

Chorus x2

Verse 1

Ladies perform half turn  (step, hop, step, hop)

Gentlemen perform half turn  (step, hop, step, hop)

(you should both be facing the opposite direction to which you started)

Chorus

Repeat Verse 1 (to face original direction)

Chorus

Verse 2

Ladies perform full turn (step, hop, step, hop, step, step, step, together)

Chorus

Gentlemen perform full turn (step, hop, step, hop, step, step, step, together)

Chorus

Verse 3

Both partners place the palms of their right hands together and perform a circle in a clockwise direction

(step, hop, step, hop, step, step, step, together)

Note that the lady will have to do an extra bit of a turn to face forward

Chorus

Both partners place the palms of their left hands together and perform a circle in a counter-clockwise direction

(step, hop, step, hop, step, step, step, together)

Note that this time the gentleman has to do the extra turn

Chorus

Repeat as necessary, and finish with a bow or curtsey