Classes

Learning - Current Practical Understanding and Recommendations - Sir Midair MacCormaic

When learning a skill, either cognitive and/or physical, there have been recent advances in the state of the art in understanding how people can learn. In this class, I’ll review the illusion of Knowing, learning myths and misconceptions, how we learn, and specific advice on what you can do to improve your chances of learning. While I am not an expert, I am taking the best from academic presentations at military conferences (i.e. soldier training, but generalized) and the online class Learning How to Learn. This particular instance of this class is focused on the dance community, but it also applies to martial, crafting, and knowledge areas in the SCA. 

 

Beginning English Country favorites - Ranthulfr

RuftyTufty, Heart's Ease, Gathering Peascods, Jenny Pluck Pears

 

Beginning 15th C. Italian dances - The Honorable Lady Magdalena Vogelsang

Petit Vriens, Anello, Rostiboli Gioioso, Gelosia

 

Selected Dances from the Penta Pentamere CDs - Baroness Gwenllyen the Minstrel, Master of the Pelican

Contrapasso from the Chigi manuscripts will be the first dance. After that we will choose easier dances from the Penta Pentamere CDs, including (as time permits) Black Alman, Petite Rose, Montarde Bransle, Dargason, and possibly more!

 

The Bransle Suite! - Yngerame Erskyne and Vincent O’Cosnachain 

Cassandra Pinagay Charlotte, War, Aridan

 

Beginning 16th C. Italian Dances - Alina of Foxwood

 Villanella, Fedelta, Contrapasso in Due 

Playford Favorites - The Honorable Lord Dunstan Bramblette

Black Nag, Picking of Sticks, Upon a Summer’s Day

 

How to Dance ECD (the fun way!) - Alexander of Mistig Waetru

Renaissance England was not exactly known for VIctorian fastidiousness. (Have you read Shakespeare?) In this class, we’ll let our hair down and let some laughter into our dance. Prior knowledge of ECD is not required. Be prepared to step (or leap) out of your comfort zone.

 

Intermediate ECD Favorites - Alexander of Mistig Waetru

Whirligig, Newcastle, Goddesses

 

Puzzling Good Luck Charms - The Honorable Lord Dafydd Arth

Two dizzy-making original choreographies in the style of 4-couple ECDs. Shannon’s Shamrock is a cousin of dances like Hyde Park, Posties, or Newcastle, with an Irish twist. Puzzle Box includes back-and-forth set transformations and ends with the crowd-pleasing ‘Death Spiral’.

 

Sailing and Stargazing - The Honorable Lord Dafydd Arth

Two original choreographies in the style of 3-couple ECDs. Set sail with Burley Mariners, which is a brisk, lively ECD with a couples hey and a fun zig-zag progression figure. Then spend some time spinning through half-stars and soaking up some adoration as Lord Sun and Lady Moon.

 

Dramatic Fun - Alina of Foxwood

Caroso dances that make it easy and fun to play up the drama!  Chase your partner in Pungente Dardo and joust with both partners in Bella Gioiosa

Torneo Amoroso- Yngerame Erskyne 

Caroso’s version of this challenging 16th Century Italian dance will command your attention for the entire class period. Come find out why!

Le Bellezze d'Olimpia and Maraviglia d’Amore - Maestra Sara de Bonneville

These two lovely 16th Century Italian dances were taught at the 2017 Known World Dance & Music Symposium by guest artist Barbara Segal of the U.K.  This is another look at those dances, reflecting how my interpretation has changed over the last several years.

Passo e Mezzo (Simplified Version) -  Maestra Sara de Bonneville

This is a version of Caroso's Passo e Mezzo from 1600, simplified in that only the women's variations (mutanza) will be danced, alternately by Dancer 1 and Dancer 2.  The men's variations will be outlined at the end of the handout but will not be taught during the class.

16th C. Italian Favorites - THL Sionnain of Mynedd Seren 

Gracca Amorosa and Bizzaria d’Amore

Italian Trios - The Honorable Lord Dafydd Arth

Two 15th Century Italian dances for three dancers. Vita di Cholino and Spero.

 

How to be an Evil Dance Laurel - Messer. Sion Andreas o Wynedd

 

Evil? You, Uncle Sion? Mais oui! What good is being a dancing master if you can’t engage in researchish and choreographish naughtiness? Come see what terrible things I did over Plague Break. Fee Ra Huri and Ein Nurembergishe Tanz.

  

Italian Country Dances - Messer Sion Andreas o Wynedd

 

What?! Uncle Sion, there’s no such beast! No, there isn’t but what if the close relationship between Italian Court Dance and the English Country Dances had taken a left turn at Albuquerque? The result might have looked something like this. Sweet Nothings and Faith and Hope.