Classes
Teachers
are still welcome! If you'd like to teach, contact
Rhieinwylydd. See below for Class
Descriptions.
Classes
are marked "N" for novice level (you have never
danced or even heard dance music), "I" for intermediate
level (you have danced a bit and recognize a few steps, e.g.
"set and turn"), and "A" for advanced
level (you dance regularly and are very familiar with the
steps in a given dance genre). Classes marked "AL"
are suitable for all levels. Some classes are marked with
two lettesr, e.g. "N/I." This means that both novice
and intermediate dancers will enjoy this class, not
that you have to be a high-grade novice dancer! If you're
interested in a class but not sure if you should take it,
feel free to contact the event
steward or ball
leader with your question, talk to the instructor day
of, or just show up for the class and see what happens! We
want everyone to try new dances and feel comfortable.
Beginning
15th C. Italian Dance (N)
Learn the basic patterns, steps, and history
to 15th C Italian dances. At minimum dances are: Amoroso,
Petite Vriens, Gelosia. If time permits - Rostiboli Gioioso.
These dances vary from dances for couples, a dance for trios,
and a dance for a set of three couples. Instructor: Lady
Nicolosa d'Isenfir back
to top
Beginning
English Country Dance (N)
This class will introduce the basic steps/patterns
of English Country Dance (England, very late 16th/very early
17th century) and will cover at minimum the following dances:
Hearts Ease/Rufty Tufty (two dances for two couples which
are often done back to back), Black Nag (for three couples),
and Gathering Peascods (for varying number of couples, preferably
at least 3). Instructor: Lady Elwynne back
to top
Basse
Dances (I/A)
Basse dances are processional dances that were
common in the Burgundian and Italian courts of the 15th century,
and include some of the earliest known choreographies. The
steps are stately and graceful, the music flowing, and the
dances themselves incredibly elegant. The class will cover
Dance de Cleves from Burgundy and Lauro from Italy. Learn
them during the day and strut your stuff at the ball tonight!
Instructor: Lord Galeran Chanterel back
to top
Intro
to Belly Dance (N)
This class will take you from standing on the
side wishing you were part of the fun to being able to participate
in drum/dance circles. We will learn 12 basic bellydance moves
and one
traveling technique.
Your first 12 moves:
- Basic stance
- hip circles - horizontal and vertical
- figure 8's - horizontal and vertical
- hip drops / lifts
- hip slides
- triple drops / lifts
- chest circles - horizontal and vertical
- chest figure 8's - horizontal and vertical
- chest lifts / drops
- chest slides
- Arabic / camel walk - forward and back
- Arabic circle
Instructors: Baroness Adriana la Bretonne, Maestra Francesca
la Curiosa back to top
Dances
from the Inns of Court (N)
This class will introduce the basic steps/patterns
of the Dances from the Inns of Court (England, late 16th century)
and will cover at minimum the following dances: Black Alman,
Lorayne Alman, Madam Sosilia Alman, and Old Alman. Instructors:
Baron Stefan of Cambion (10:30 AM), Lady Elwynne (1:00 PM)
back to top
With
a Hay! (nonny nonny optional) (I)
We'll learn the ins and outs (literally!) of
doing a hay, a weaving figure common to many dances, particularly
English Country. We'll do some different variations of hays
as found in various dances. Instructor: Lady Margaret
Wolseley back to top
Roundtable
Discussion - Two
halves of the same body: dancemasters and bandleaders finding
each other and working together (AL)
Instructor:
Lord Watkyn of Kent back
to top
Intermediate
English Country Dance (I)
To include chestnut, grimstock, scotch cap,
hyde park, goddesses, jenny pluck pears. Instructor: Lady
Evelynne Merrymet back
to top
Chirintana
(I)
Chirintana is a longways folk dance for any
number of couples that was wildly popular in 15th century
Italy. The steps are simple and lively and the floor patterns
include an opening processional, a weaving hey reminiscent
of English country dances like Trenchmore and a snaking figure
that resembles some French bransles. The class is suitable
for all levels of experience . . this is not a hard dance!
Instructor: Lord Galeran Chanterel back
to top
Stretches
for Middle Eastern Dance (AL)
Stretches
helpful for Middle Eastern dance. Instructors: Hanim Kisaiya,
Baroness Adriana la Bretonne back
to top
Vocal
Jam Session (AL)
Anne will lead us through singing some of the
15th and 16th century songs and madrigals that are most familiar
in the Knowne World. Anne is bringing the sheet music and
a key board. Come ready to sing! Depending on the voices in
the group, we'll try some 3-4 part choral arrangements. Instructor:
Mistress Anne of Carthew back
to top
Musicians'
Ball Practice Session (AL)
If
you are a musician playing for the evening ball, this is your
opportunity to get in some practice with other musicians.
back to top
Portals
to the Soul (AL)
You don't need to be theatrically flirtatious
to be fun to dance with. This class teaches details of eye
contact, hand contact, personal space, facial expression,
coordinated movement, leading and following, and other aspects
of your dancing. Instructors: Lord Giovan Donato, Lady
Margaret Wolseley back
to top
Showy
Italian Dances (A)
Learn some fun, flirty, and showy Italian dances.
Patterns and steps become more complex so some previous dance
experience suggested. Planned dances: Contentezza d'Amore,
Gracca Amorosa. Instructor: Lady Nicolosa d'Isenfir
back to top
Intermediate
Belly Dance (I)
We will build on the Basic Bellydance class
by combining moves in addition, we will learn different shimmy
and travel techniques.
- Shimmies
- Egyptian (aka 4/4 or up/down shimmy)
- 34 quarter shimmy
- American ("the twist")
- Choochoo shimmy
- Traveling
- grapevine (forward and back)
- egyptian (forward and back)
- washing machine step (side to side)
- walking with shimmy/shimmy circles
- Combos
- basic hips and chest combo
- 4 lifts, alternating hips
(left, right, left, right)-2x
- egyptian shimmy (8 beats)
- chest lifts (8 beats) and repeat
- Aswan combo
- Bint al Balad
- Cairo Cabaret
Instructor: Hanim Kisaiya back
to top
Recording
SCA Dance Music (AL)
Instructor:
Lady Sophia the Orange back
to top
Bransles
(N/I)
These
popular dances of 16th century France are easy and enjoyable
and do not require a partner! If you can walk, you can branle!
Instructor: Lady Lyneya Allain back
to top
Advanced
English Country Dance (A)
To include as many of the following as time
permits: whirligig, parsons farewell, St. martins, step stately,
nonesuch, newcastle, picking of sticks. Instructor: Baron
Stefan of Cambion back
to top
Dances
for Any Number (I)
It's
often difficult to get the right number of people for more
than one complete set of dances, so it's common for dancers
to sit out a dance here and there. Well, after this class,
you'll never find yourself in that situation again! Learn
how to do modifications of dances to include more people and
the proper manners of joining into a dance (aka friendly sharking).
We'll test our techniques on Jenny Pluck Pears, Hearts Ease,
Black Nag (all English Country Dances for 2-3 couples) and
perhaps the 15th c. Italian dance Gelosia (for 3 couples).
Instructor: Lady Nicolosa d'Isenfir back
to top
Middle
Eastern Dance: Stuff on Your Head
Like
most things in ancient cultures...a utilitarian art evolved
into ...an art. Though people in the Middle East and North
Africa carried food trays, water jugs and baskets on their
heads, thereby freeing the hands for carrying other things
like children and the reins of animals... it has also become
an art form to show the proficiency of the dancer. In this
class I plan to help first learn what goes into the selection
process for deciding what to carry on your head and then some
basic movements which can be applied to either dance or everyday
life... If you can bring a bundle or a flat or scooped bottom
grass basket and something to weigh it down with..( a bag
of rice or dried beans works works well) , if you decide to
bring a sword or a tray please try to bring a plain candle
or a can of hairspray or some bowling wax with you...I will
attempt to provide experimental items but an item that is
your own means you can take it home to practice with it. Instructor:
Lady Maria Beatriz
back to top
Easy
Italian Dances (N)
Come
learn Petit Vriens, Amaroso, and (time permitting) Rostiboli
Gioioso, three easy Italian dances from the 15th century.
Instructor: Lady Sophia the Orange back
to top
Fulgente
Stella (I)
Learn Fulgente Stella, one of the simpler dances from Caroso,
with the variation of two or four dancers. Instructor:
Lady Margaret Roe back
to top
Music Appreciation for Dancers (AL)
Ever
had a dance leader try to explain that 'this dance is in 3'
and had absolutely no idea what was meant? This class will
teach beat/tempo recognition and how to recognize phrases
in a piece of music - and how you can use that to improving
your dance technique. Instructors: Lord Giovan Donato,
Lady Margaret Wolseley back
to top |
