Renaissance Dance

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Renaissance Dance

Today we have many different types of Dance: hip-hop, jazz, Irish dance, Ballet, and many more. During the Renaissance time period witch is from the 1300s to the 1600s, they had different types of Dance too Most dances were very similar, and the music during this time had a lot to do with the Dance too. The two main types of dance during the Renaissance were Court dance, and Peasant dancing. Court dances were done for entertainment and more complex, the courtiers would hire dance masters to come up with some new dances. Peasant dancing was usually not for entertainment but just for the fun of dancing! These dances danced by the peasants were called Simple dances, were with lots of people and usually done in a circle or two lines. There are different types of dances came form Italy, France and England. There were different styles in different places; in Italy they had the Basse witch is a dance were the dancers stay low to the ground with no jumps and leaps. There are two main types of Basse, which are La Spagna and Reale. Another Italian Dance is the Balli; witch is more active and expressive. There were jumps and leaps in this dance and the most popular jumps were high in the air. It was more complicated and included steps from Bassadance, Salatarello, and the Piva. There were many tempo changes too. Then there are dances from England like the canary dance witch is one of the most complex dances. It originated in Spain. It is a native dance from the Canary Islands. The dance is usually done with couples and it is danced in a fast triple time. Another dance form England is the Allemande; witch shows the widest variation in their descriptions. Steps are basic and unique. It is a line dance, danced by ma...

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... dance. The courts of Italy and France became the center of new development in dance providing support for dance masters so they could create new dances for the courtiers.

Dance was being developed in the Courts of Italy and France because the courtiers would pay dance masters to create dances for their celebrations and festivals.

In the court of Catherine De Medici (1519-89) the first forms of Ballet were created by a Dance Master named Balthazar De Beauhoyleux. The dances told a story with a group of dancers in costumes. Later, King Louis XIV established the first Academie Royale de Dance.

In the courts the couple dances of The Minuet and the Waltz began to show the freedom and expression of the Renascence times.

In addition to the formal dances in the courts, the Renaissance saw an increase in country dancing outside of the fancy dances of the courts.

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