A Summary of Dancing at Pennsic 24

Pennsic 24 had a formal collection of dance music, contributed by a variety of SCAdians, and organized by Tibicen. There was a Letter of Dance article written about it.

Details as remembered by Rosina:

Dance was run by Dani.

The ball was on Friday, run by Filip and Valentine. No teaching.

The first dance was interrupted by the king of somewhere who for some very strange reason had decided that the masked ball would be the perfect place to call one of his (non-dancing) fighters on vigil. The poor thing had been told to dress up nice and accompany Her Maj to the ball, and I remember thinking that it was odd that such a lot of non-dancers had decided to show up. (They all left as soon as the shtick was over.) The king called a dramatic stop in the middle of the dance, and called up the fighter, who got to be surrounded by a large audience .... of people who mostly didn't know him from Adam, and could care less. I remember commenting that if I ever got called up to be made a dance laurel, I wanted them to call a hold in the middle of the field battle to do it. I was kidding, of course. In actual fact I couldn't think of a worse place.

It was decided that the for and against HitW fund raiser was causing too much bad-feeling, so the musicians said they would do 6 for free, and every 3 more repeats would cost 25$, I believe. They raised @ 75$, and played 18 in total.

15th Century Italian Balli

Court dances of Italy. No previous dance knowledge required. Fri. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lady Rosina del Bosco Chiaro


15th-Century French Basse Dances

An introduction to basse dances published by Toulouze, “L’art et instruction de bien dancer,” in Paris, 1488. Mon. 1-2 p.m. John Emerson


A Dance-Master’s Library

An informal round-table examination and discussion of historical and modern material resources for dance reconstruction. Bring your own manuals and lots of paper to take notes! Mon. 3-4 p.m. John Emerson


Better Bransles at Your Balls

Teaches the concept of a Bransle Suite, combining a number of bransle dances as they would have been done in period. All experience levels welcome. Wed. 1-3 p.m. Lord Valentine Warner


Bransles for Everyone

Easy and popular bransles such as Charlotte, Pease, Horses’, Montarde. Sun. (8/13) 11 a.m.-Noon. Lord Henry of Maldon


The Cascarda

A discussion of choreographic analysis regarding Caroso’s Cascarda and its relationship to the Mannerist aesthetic. This is a follow-up to a class offered two years ago. Fri. 1-2 p.m. Master Sion Andreas


Dance Reconstruction

A workshop focused on reconstructing a single dance, working from both primary and secondary sources. Participants should gain a better understanding of dance reconstruction and leave with a new dance. Mon. 2-4 p.m. Lord Dani of the Seven Wells


The Dancemaster

A group discussion of the role of the dancemaster in period and in the CMA. Sat. (8/19) 4-5 p.m. Master Sion Andreas


The Elements of English Country Dance

How to smoothly and gracefully execute the steps, figures, and movements that make up English Country Dances as well as the importance of the dancers’ positions in relation to other dancers and the room itself. Fri. 3-4 p.m. Mistress Jessa d’Avondale


Longwise English Country Dances For 3 Couples

Dances found in Playford’s “English Dancing Master” that call for sets of three or more couples arranged longways in a hall. Sat. (8/ 19) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lord William Redcape of Iron Mountain


Measures for Everyone

English measures such as Quadrane Pavane, Queen’s Almaine, Black Almaine. Sun. (8/13) 1-2 p.m. Lord Henry of Maldon


More English Country Dances

Includes dances such as Once I Loved a Maiden Fair, Up Tails All, Dargason, and Mundesse. Tues. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lord Henry of Maldon


The Other Arbeau - Miscellaneous Late 16th-Century French Court Dances

Many are familiar with Arbeau’s pavannes, galliards, and bransles; this class covers several of the many other dances he published. Sat. (8/ 19) 2-3 p.m. John Emerson


SCA Dances

Dances choreographed within the SCA. Includes John Tallow’s Canon, Mannschaft Pavan, Road to the Isles (Scotland the Brave) and Garlanda Regale. Fri. 10-11 a.m. Dafydd Arth


Two-Couple English Country Dances

 A brief survey of some of the later period English Country dances using sets of two couples in “boxed set” formation. Mon. 11 a.m.-Noon. HL Giuseppe da Borgia


The Well-Dressed (and Safe) Dancer:

Covers comfortable and safe dancing attire. Includes “show and tell.” Mon. 4-6 p.m. Lord Valentine Warner


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Gregory Blount of Isenfir (Greg Lindahl)