Everything you ever wanted to know about

Dance at Pennsic 37

and then some.

The Pennsic 37 dance coordinator is Judith of Northumbria

Welcome!

Greetings from Judith, called de Northumbria! This year I once more have the pleasure of leading activities in honor of the muse of dance, Terpsichore. There shall be a full range of classes scheduled in the Dance Pavilion, ranging from absolute beginner (everyday ay 2pm and 3pm) to very advanced (see class book) -- there will be something for everyone who wishes to learn! We will also be offering wide variety of night-time revels in the dance pavilion open to *everyone*, even to those who do not wish to dance at all! This year's Grand Ball (in the barn) shall be a colour ball in the tradition of the court of Burgundy; come wearing something in either gold or red (people may also attend in any colour they like. (Gold or red is not mandatory to enjoy the dancing, but merely the theme this year.) Even if you have never tried dancing before, maybe this should be your year -- come by the Pavilion and give it a whirl!

Judith, lady of the Court, Magistra Laurea, etc.

(If you're new to dance at Pennsic, please see the Commonly Asked Questions.)

Class List

Deputies

All classes will be in the tent. Floor set-up and take-down will be July 28-30th and August 8th. Beginner classes will be taught most days at 2pm and 3pm.

Special Dances Evening Schedule

Mailing List

There's a mailing list for dance at Pennsic. To subscribe or look at the archive, check out this spiffy webpage.

The Grand Ball

To all who read these words, may it be known that the Grand Ball held in the barn of the town of Pennsic on August 5th of this year shall be a colour ball in the tradition of the court of lord Phillip, Duke of Burgundy, Count of Charolais, etc., and that the colors shall be gold and red to create a resplendent ambience in the darkness of the evening. Don garments of one or both colors and come and dance away the evening!

Your servant,
Judith, Lady of the Royal Court of Drachenwald, Magistra Laurea

p.s. People are OF COURSE permitted to attend and participate even if they are not wearing red or gold. This is only intended to add a little festivity and visual interest to the proceedings.

The preliminary dance list is:

Beginner Ball

Her Excellency, Alyna Tir-y-Don, Lady of House Haakonstead, member of the Company of the Dragoon Guard, and Freescholar of the Academie d'Espee, by the Grace of God, TRMs Sinclair and Kari, Sovereign and Consort of Atlantia, and Their Excellencies Jean Claude de Calais and Alyna of the Ilex, Baron and Baroness of Tir-y-Don, encourages all gentles who are suitors of Terpsichore but debutantes at dance to join her in the dance pavilion for the Beginner's Ball! This occasion of revelry will begin at the ninth hour in the evening of III Non. Sext., the 3rd day of the month which now honors Caesar Augustus. Each dance will build upon the steps learned from the previous one and the ball will progress from Bransles to English Country dances to a few basic Italian dances. Those who choose Euterpe, the muse of lyric song, as their mistress (i.e., minstrels) are most heartily welcome!

The Baroness will also offer to the populous some light refreshments. In addition, a limited number of cd's, which will have the music for the dances, and documents containing the choreography for each one will be available.

English Revel

Come one and all to the English Revel in the Dance Tent, on Monday the 4th of August at 9:00 in the Evening, at which shall be done divers sorts of Dances that are known in England. Besides Dancing, we will "have a trifling foolish Banquet towards". Many of the Dances will have been taught beforehand by the Master of the Revels, Lord Henry of Maldon, in Classes including those on Saturday noon, Sunday 3pm & 4pm, and Monday noon & 3pm, with cheat sheets for those Dances.

The tentative program of dances (which may be subject to change up to the time when each dance is done) is as follows:

The eight Old Measures, a Galliard, New Boe Peep, Chestnut, Gathering Peascods, Half Hannikin, Newcastle, Grimstock, My Lady Cullen, Rufty Tufty, Hearts Ease, Sellenger's Round, The Whirligig, Jenny Pluck Pears, Once I Loved a Maiden Fair, Ly Bens Distonys, Parson's Farewell, a French braule (Peas' Branle), Scotch Cap, If All the World Were Paper, Picking of Sticks, Up Tails All, Black Nag, The Merry Merry Milk Maids, Nonesuch, Dull Sir John, Love's Light Wings, Boateman, Trenchmore, Hit and Miss.

Blue Feather Ball

Joshua the Imperfekt, host, with Clan Blue Feather, wishes all gentles of the Known World to hear that the 19th Annual Clan Blue Feather Ball & Fashion Cotillion will be held on Tuesday evening, August 5th, at 9:00 p.m. in the Dance Tent at the Pennsic War. Please join them for dancing, fun, food, friends and frivolity, as well as prizes for the most notable garb. Remember, their motto is "Wear what makes you look your best, but not necessarily your best garb!" A panel of roving mystery judges will be on the lookout for both fun and serious garb, so be sure to arrive early to give all plenty of time to admire your handiwork, and also to enjoy an evening of dancing. Following the Ball, Camp Urso will host a post-revel just down the block.

Caroso Ball

To all attending the Great War known as Pennsic, does Elisa von Sophey, Princess of Oertha, send greetings! We will be hosting a Ball in the style of Maestro Fabritio Caroso from 5 to 7 p. m. on Wednesday, August 6th, in the Dance Tent. The musician stands ready to play any tune from the dance manuals of Caroso, Negri, and other manuals from 16th century Italy. Our Maestro del Ballo will be Edwardus the Wise, and Gregory Blount will be our Maestro del Sonato. Please join Us to dance or watch -- this may be the best performance dancing to see at the War!

15th Century Revel

May it be known that I will host a revel on the feast of St. Sixtus (August 7th), and that this revel will be rather wanton in nature, indulging in drink, food, music--- and that path into the bowels of Hell itself, dance! Festivities will commence after the setting of the sun, at the ninth hour of the clock; all are invited to come and make merry, no matter their pleasure! For those who follow the path of Terpsichore, I have contracted a fine ensemble of pipers who will obey any request provided that it be concurrent with contemporary tastes in these time of the Medici and the ascendancy of the great house of Burgundy.

Notice!

The theme of the food, dancing and music will be 15th century, but that does not preclude people who have no 15th c. clothing from attending--- ALL are welcome, whether they dance, drink or do anything 15th century or not...Vikings, Romans, Arabs, Magyars, Franks, everyone! Please, pass this invitation on to all and sundry. It is a party, first and foremost!

Previous Years

Check out the archive of previous Pennsic dance info.

Webbed by Gregory Blount of Isenfir (Greg Lindahl) (lindahl@pbm.com)