Dancing through the Ages 1700-1750

Dancing through the Ages (October, 2020) is a 10,800 page work offering background on, reconstruction of, and chorded music for nearly 1,000 dances from between from 1400 to 1900, as well as extensive notes analysing links between these dances, the evolution of dance forms, movement ideas and notation systems through this 500 period, and the changing nature of ball culture and dance sources in countries across the old and new word.  The whole is supported by thousands of quotations, diagrams and illustrations from original sources.

The work is broken into 31 books, each of between 300 and 460 (average 350) double-sided A4 pages. After the 'Orientation and Overview' book 1, the work is organised into ten 'Volumes', each of 3 books.  

Each 3-book Volume is devoted to a particular period and consists of 1,000 plus pages of research, discussion, analysis, illustrations, musical scores, dance reconstructions, source extracts, transcriptions and translations. The first book (Part 1a-d) looks at dancing in general (the social, political and geographic contexts in which dance and the institution of the ball was evolving; the nature and evolution of the period’s main forms of dance; dance elements such as style, etiquette, honours, holds, formations, figures and steps; developments in dance teaching, notation and publication, and period-relevant primary sources (including little known ones). The second and third books (Part 2a and Part 2b respectively) offer sources and music for, and reconstructions and analysis of dozens of dances from the relevant period, presented in alphabetic order.

To order any or all of the books in this 31-book series go to LULU. The books are AUS$36 each (approximately US$27), plus postage which will diminish with the more books in your order. As your books will be sent from the nearest Lulu printer on your continent, you will not be paying for overseas shipping and will not be waiting long for the books to arrive. Orders are normally filled at local postage rates within a week. 

N.B. I recommend that in addition to ordering the books pertaining to the period you first think of, you also order books from the adjacent period collections plus the invaluable Book 1: 'Orientation and Overview'.  Indeed, because of the interconnectivity of dance over the 500 years covered by this series (and the cross-referencing between books in the series), I highly recommend the full set!

When on the LULU Spotlight page, in order to view the books in the order in which they appear in the series select 'Sort by Publication Date Ascending'

Below are the front covers and contents of the three books that constitute Volume V in the series

Part 1: Dance in general   (Book 14)

PART 1a: DANCE CONTEXT ~ 8

France ~ 10

Dance outdoors ~ 10

Types of indoor dancing ~ 16

The formal ball according to Rameau ~ 17

The Court ball as described by de Luynes ~ 19

The Masquerade according to Sain-Simon and others ~ 21

Private balls ~ 27

The Opera balls ~ 28

How did Paris Opera ball actually work? ~ 31

Other new dance venues ~ 32

The dances of folk origin ~ 33

Theatrical vers Social ~ 34

The rise of the contredanse ~ 36

Spain and Italy ~ 41

Spain ~ 41

Italy ~ 43

England ~ 44

The rustic dance ~ 44

Public assemblies ~ 46

Weaver, Jenys and a place for the new French noble style ~ 48

Links with theatrical world ~ 51

The breadth of the country dance repertoire ~ 54

Scotland and Ireland ~ 55

Germany and Austria ~ 58

The French influence ~ 58

The persistence of Indigenous dance forms and style ~ 63

A growing indulgence ~ 66

Saxony, Poland and Russia ~ 70

America ~ 71

 

PART 1b: DANCE FORMS ~ 75

The Allemande ~ 77

The Bourrée ~ 81

The Branle ~ 82

Cotillon / Contredanse français ~ 84

Its branle origins ~ 84

Its rise to popularity ~ 85

Its association with the ballets, operas and opera balls ~ 88

The Country Dance ~ 90

The Country Dance / Contredanse (Anglaise)~ 90

Thomlinson on how to avoid disorder ~ 91

The French on contredances—Feuillet ~ 93

English country dance / French contredanse concordance ~ 95

French on contredances—Rameau and others ~ 99

Figure invention, medley-making, hybridising and starting improper ~ 101

The Courant / Courante ~ 103

The Gavotte~ 107

The Minuet ~ 109

Its importance ~ 109

Its forms ~ 109

Its steps ~ 112

Its figures ~ 113

Its evolution ~ 116

The Pass(e)pied ~ 121

Other courtly dances ~ 122

The Sarabande ~ 122

The Rigaudon ~ 122

The Chaconne and Passacaglia / Passacailles ~ 122

The Gigue ~ 123

 

PART 1c: DANCE ELEMENTS ~ 124

Style ~ 126

Timing and grace ~ 126

Body mechanics ~ 127

Body disposition ~ 128

Walking ~ 130

The lady’s disposition and movement ~ 132

Arms ~ 133

Etiquette ~ 136

At a grand occasion ~ 136

Kissing ~ 137

Fans ~ 138

Honours ~ 139

Standing bow for the gentleman ~ 139

Standing courtesy for the lady ~ 141

Passing bow for the gentleman ~ 143

Passsing courtsey for lady ~ 144

Retiring bow for the gentleman~ 145

Retiring courtesy for the lady~ 147

Honours before dancing (the minuet) ~ 147

Before dancing ~ 148

The first honour—honour to presence ~ 149

The second honour—honour to partner ~ 150

Preparation to dance / minuet ~ 151

The Hat ~ 152

Holds and Positions ~ 154

Foot positions ~ 154

Arm and hand holds ~ 156

Formations 158

Couples dances ~ 158

2-couples squares ~ 159

4-couples squares ~ 159

4-couples longways ~ 159

Dances for other set numbers ~ 159

Longways for as many as will ~ 160

Figures ~ 162

3-in-line ~ 162

4-in-file or -line ~ 162

Allemande ~ 163

Arm ~ 165

Back to back ~ 165

Balance ~ 166

Cast (off) ~ 166

Chain / Bootlace~ 167

Change (places) ~ 167

Chase ~ 168

Circle ~ 168

Clapping and other hand gestures ~ 168

Contra corners ~ 168

Cross ~ 169

Down and back ~ 169

Draw ~ 169

Fall back and meet ~ 169

Follow-the-leader cast off and lead back ~ 170

Figure ~ 170

Gesture ~ 170

Gypsy ~ 171

Hands across ~ 171

Hands round ~ 171

Hey ~ 171

Jumps ~ 172

Kiss ~ 172

Lead ~ 173

Meet ~ 173

Moulinet ~ 173

Poussette ~ 173

Right and left ~ 173

Rond ~ 174

Set ~ 174

Sides / Siding ~ 175

Stamps ~ 176

Turn ~ 176

Turn back to back ~ 176

Turn single ~ 177

Up and back ~ 177

Steps in general ~ 178

Introductory remarks ~ 178

Contredance steps in general ~ 179

Contredance steps in 3/2—the ‘Hornpipe’ ~ 182

Cotillion steps in general ~ 185

Gavotte stepping in cotillions and contredances ~ 186

Menuet/Minuet steps in general ~ 189

Steps in detail ~ 198

Assemblé ~ 198

Balancé (Pas)~ 200

Balloté ~ 202

Balonné (Pas ) ~ 202

Bourrée (Pas de) of 1 movement or Fleuret ~ 203

Bourrée (pas de) with 2 movements ~ 214

Bourré (pas de) vite / Bourrée with a bound ~ 215

Changement de Jambe ~ 217

Chassé ~ 217

Contretemps / Contretemps de gavotte ~ 221

Contretems à deux mouvemens / Contretemps balonné ~ 230

Contretemps de menuet / Hop minuet step ~ 231

Coupé (Pas) simple and coupé soutenue ~ 233

Coupé (Pas) à deux mouvemens ~ 243

Coupé avec ouverture de jambe ~ 246

Coupé battu ~ 247

Coupé fermé / coupé révérence ~ 247

Coupé sans poser le corps / Coupé en ne posant que la pointe ~ 248

Courante (Pas de) ~ 248

Demi-Contretemps ~ 248

Demi-coupé ~ 249

Demi-Jeté ~ 255

Echappé (Pas) ~ 256

Emboët(t)é ~ 257

Fleuret ~ 257

Gaillarde (Pas de) and Pas Tombé ~ 257

Gavotte (Pas de) ~ 262

Glissade ~ 263

Jeté ~ 264

Jeté chassé ~ 269

Minuet step (0)—0 movement ~ 270

Minuet step (1)—1 movement ~ 270

Minuet step (2a)—2 movements, hemiolic ~ 272

Minuet step (2b)—2 movement, non-hemiolic ~ 281

Minuet step (2c & 2d)—2 movement, late 2nd ~ 283

Minuet (3a & 3b)—3 movements without and with leap ~ 290

Passacaille (Pas de) ~ 293

Passepied ~ 295

Pirouette ~ 295

Point / Temps ~ 299

Rigaudon / Rigadoon ~ 300

The rigadoon of two springs ~ 305

Set ~ 307

Sissone / Pas de sissone~ 307

Temps de Courante / Pas Grave ~ 310

Temps levé ~ 314

Tombé (Pas) ~ 314

Zephyr (Pas de) ~ 314

 

PART 1d: DANCE TEACHING ~ 315

Dancing master classes ~ 316

In England ~ 316

In Scotland and Ireland ~ 316

In France ~ 317

In Germany ~ 318

Elsewhere ~ 319

In America ~ 320

Other aspects of the vocation ~ 321

The apprenticeship ~ 321

Connection with fencing ~ 322

The social regard ~ 322

The teaching repertoire ~ 326

Notation ~ 328

Five different systems ~ 328

The Feuillet system ~ 329

Uses of and variants on the Feuillet notation system ~ 359

Publications ~ 363

Technical publications ~ 363

Annual publications in France ~ 363

Annual publications in England ~ 365

Teaching theory ~ 367

Anonymous works ~ 369

The dancing master ~ 369

The Durlach manuscript ~ 369

The ‘Tanz’ article in Universal Lexicon ~ 369

Ms-30 ~ 369

Ms-70 ~ 369

Ms-80 ~ 370

Authors and their works ~ 371

Alexander ~ 371

Behr ~ 371

Bickham ~ 372

Bonin ~ 372

Bonnefond ~ 372

Bonnet ~ 373

Burette ~ 373

Caverley ~ 373

Descan / Deslan ~ 374

Dezais ~ 374

Dubreil ~ 375

Dufort ~ 376

Essex ~ 376

Ferriol ~ 377

Feuillet ~ 378

Holst ~ 381

I.H.P ~ 381

Isaac ~ 382

Jayme ~ 383

Jenyns ~ 384

Kynaston ~ 384

L’Abbée ~ 384

Lambranzi ~ 385

La Vigne ~ 385

Magny ~ 386

Minguet e Irol ~ 386

Neal ~ 387

Nivelon ~ 387

Pasch ~ 388

Pécour ~ 388

Pemberton ~ 388

Playford ~ 389

Priest ~ 390

Rameau ~ 390

Siris ~ 391

Taubert ~ 391

Tomlinson ~ 393

Walsh ~ 395

Weaver ~ 396

Wright ~ 398

Young ~ 398

Part 2a: Dances in detail A-Ma   (Book 15)

Aimable Vainqueur / Louvre ~ 6

Allemande (2) / L’Allemande ~ 15

Always Drunk and Never Sober (1) ~ 28

L’Amoreuse ~ 30

Apley House ~ 33

Auretti’s Dutch Skipper (1) ~ 36

La Bachante (1) ~ 38

La Bachante (2) ~ 45

Barbarini’s Tambourine ~ 49

La Bavaroise ~ 51

La Bergère ~ 60

La Blonde & la Brune ~ 63

Bob in the Bed ~ 72

La Bohaimiene ~ 74

La Bourgogne ~ 80

La Bourrée d’Achille ~ 91

The Busie Body ~ 101

Butter’d Pease (1) ~ 104

La Chaîne ~ 106

La Chasse ~ 112

Cheshire Rounds ~ 117

Childgrove ~ 120

The Children in the Wood ~ 122

The Collier’s Daughter (1), (2) & (3) ~ 126

Les Contrefaiseurs ~ 130

La Coquette / Coquette (1) ~ 141

Le Cordon Bleu ~ 144

Le Cotillon ~ 149

Le Cotillon des Fêtes de Thalie ~ 159

Cotillon de Surenne~ 164

De’il Take the Wars (2) ~ 173

Draw Cupid Draw ~ 176

Easter Thursday ~ 178

Entrée de deux Bacchantes ~ 181

Entrée pour un Berger et une Bergère ~ 187

Entrée pour un homme et une femme ~ 191

L’Epiphanie ~ 196

Fair and Softly ~ 199

The Fair Quaker of Deal ~ 201

La Fanatique ~ 204

Fop’s Fancy ~ 208

Les Galeries d’Amour ~ 210

La Gasconne ~ 215

La Gavotte du Roy à quatre ~ 219

Gigue à deux / Gigue de Roland ~ 224

Granadiais ~ 232

The Great Turk ~ 235

Greensleeves and Yellow Lace ~ 238

Hamstead Heath ~ 242

Hedge Lane (3) ~ 244

La hessoise d’armstatt ~ 246

The Highlander’s Wedding ~ 251

Hunt the Squirrel (1) & (2) ~ 253

Indian Queen ~ 257

In the Fields in Frost and Snow ~ 260

Irish Lamentation ~ 266

La Jalousie ~ 269

Kelsterne Gardens ~ 272

Knives and Forkes ~ 274

Lady Mary’s Courant ~ 276

Lilli Burlero (2a, b & c) ~ 278

Love in a Bottle (2) ~ 282

Love and a Bottle (3) ~ 284

Love’s Triumph ~ 286

Madame Robin / Mad Robin (2) ~ 289

Madamoiselle Dupingle (1) & (2) / Sabina ~ 294

Les Manches Vertes ~ 296

Les Mariniers ~ 301

The Marlborough (1) & (2) ~ 304

Masquerade Royal (1) & (2) ~ 307

La Matelote ~ 311

 

Part 2b: Dances in detail Me-Z   (Book 16)

Le Menuet à quatre (1) ~ 6

Menuet à quatre (2) ~ 9

Le Menuet d’Alcide ~ 14

Menuet de la Reine (1) ~ 22

The Merry Conclusions ~ 25

Minuet (1) / Menuet à deux (1) ~ 28

Moll Peatley, the New way / Moll Peatley (2) ~ 124

Mr Caverley’s Minuet ~ 128

Mr Holt’s Minuet and Jig ~ 137

Mr Priest’s Minuet ~ 145

My Lady Winwood’s Maggot ~ 154

My Lord Byron’s Maggot (1) & (2) ~ 156

New Round O ~ 161

L’ Nosse de Paysan ~ 166

Le Nouveau Pistolet ~ 169

Orleans Baffled ~ 175

La Pantomime ~ 177

Passacaille pour un homme et une femme / Passacaille de Persée ~ 180

Le Passepied à quatre ~ 199

Les Petites danses / Les Tricotets ~ 203

Le Pistolet ~ 213

Poole’s Hole (2) ~ 216

Portsmouth (1) & (2) ~ 218

Prince George’s Birthday ~ 221

Princess Amelia / Holborn March ~ 223

Prince William ~ 226

The Punch bowl ~ 229

The Pursuit ~ 232

Les Quatres Faces ~ 234

The Queen’s Jigg ~ 238

The Rakes of Rochester ~ 239

Les Rats ~ 242

The Recruiting Officer (1) & (2) ~ 251

Red House (2 & 3) / La Maison Rouge ~ 254

Rigadoon (2) / Rigaudon d’Angleterre ~ 257

Rigadoon (3) / Rigoudon de Mr. Favier ~ 263

(Sir) Roger de Coverley (1) ~ 266

St Margaret’s Hill ~ 269

Softly Good Tummas ~ 272

Le Soleildieu ~ 274

Spanish Jig (2 &3) / La Gigue Espagnol  ~ 277

Strawberries and Cream (2) ~ 281

Subligny’s Minuet ~ 283

The Tatler ~ 285

The Toast ~ 289

A Trip to Paris ~ 294

A Trip to the Jubilee ~ 297

Trumpet minuet / New Minuet~ 302

La Venitienne ~ 305

La Vieille Bourrée / La Petite Bourrée ~ 316

Vienna (3) ~ 321

We’ll Wed and We’ll Bed ~ 324

Wou’d you have a young Virgin (1)/(2) ~ 328

Yellow Stockings ~ 331

Volpony ~ 334

Young Sir John / Happy Bride ~ 338

Zephirs and Flora ~ 341