26-28 July, 5 different sessions at Ropecon 2019 Messukeskus (Exhibition Centre), Helsinki, FINLAND
Friday 26 July, 6-7:45pm, introduction to Bordonian dance
Dizzy Mixer, Spring 3 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons. Lotsi's Spell, Spring 11 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons. Battering Ram, Autumn 7 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons. Daring Damsel, Village 11 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights, Volume 2, Favourites for four setttings. Baltic Crossing, Village 13 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights, Volume 2, Favourites for four setttings. Ideally for 16 dancers. In reserve: redancing any of the 3 original dances enjoyed on Wednesday or The Druid's Ring, Winter 5, Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons.
Saturday 27 July, 11-12:45pm, Talk on Dancing through the ages and reconstructing historical dance
Saturday 27 July, 2-3:45pm, Time travel through dance Eglamowr - c.1500 England
Bourrée à six passage - early 17th century French
Daniel Cowper - late 17th century English
La Coquette - early 18th century French
Lowe's Galopade, set to 'William Tell Overture' galop- early 19th century
Gothic Dance, set to 'Dashing Dragoon' set, Court 15 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 2, Favourites for four settings.
Saturday 27 July, 8pm-1am, Ball
including untaught redancing the dozen Bordonian and Historical dance introduced in above sketched Friday and Saturday workshops plus teaching of The Battle of Waterloo, ideally for 128 (8 ranks each with 8 couples) but can be danced by fewer or more. Composed by John G-G, set to Beethoven's Kontratanz no.4. Full notes will be in my Odd Delights.
Sunday 27 July, 12-1:45pm, The Chess Dance
Sunday 27 July, 6-7:45pm, 'World building through dance- the Bordonian experience' Sat. 31 August Monaro Folk Society Bush Dance
Canberra Baptist Church Hall, Currie St., Kingston, 8-11:30pm.
Earthly Delights will lead fun dances found in Australian books from the last 200 years.
Wednesday 24 July, 4-8pm, workshop sharing dances with dance group Linnea Oulunkylä, Helsinki, FINLAND John's contribution:
Past, Present and Future, Winter 4 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons.
Longway Home, Summer 1 in Lost Dances of Earthly Delights Volume 1, Pleasures for four seasons.
The Battle of Waterloo, ideally for 128 (8 ranks each with 8 couples) but can be danced by fewer or more. Composed by John G-G, set to Beethoven's Kontratanz no.4. Full notes will be in my Odd Delights.
La bourréee à six passages in [Antoine Emerauld, Parisian dancing master, c.1610] Instruction pour dancer les dances cy apres nominez to 2nd bourrée in tune set no.32 in Michael Praetorius’ Terpsichore, Wolfenbüttel, 1621. We left out two small parts to make easier to remember and so we could dance the sequence to 6 playings of the tune, not 7 playings as the original would require. We also left dancers to decide exactly how they want to end the dance. This dance is in long tradition that is also represented by the Congo menuet of c.1800. Full notes are in book 9 in Dancing through the Ages.
Country Bumpkin, known from several late 18th century and early 19th century Scottish manuscripts and dance manuals, and described as danced at a party in Australia in 1843. I presented the short version which I present alongside notes on a fuller version in book 18 version of my Dancing through the Ages.
Monday 22 July - 5-8pm workshop with members of Renaissance, general historical and Scottish dance groups
Hurju tu 1, Tallinn, ESTONIA Bellezze d’Olympia in Fabritio Caroso [Roman dancing master], Nobilità di dame, Venice, 1600. This version is different to the version Caroso published in 1581 – it is more symmetrical and requires 6 playings of the tune not 5. The dance was composed by Caroso and dedicated to Lady Olympia Orsina Cesi. Full notes in book 9 in my book 6 in my Dancing through the Ages Dec.2019. La bourréee à six passages in [Antoine Emerauld, Parisian dancing master, c.1610] Instruction pour dancer les dances cy apres nominez to 2nd bourrée in tune set no.32 in Michael Praetorius’ Terpsichore, Wolfenbüttel, 1621. We left out two small parts to make easier to remember and so we could dance the sequence to 6 playings of the tune, not 7 playings as the original would require. We also left dancers to decide exactly how they want to end the dance. This dance is in long tradition that is also represented by the Congo menuet of c.1800. Full notes are in book 9 in Dancing through the Ages. Squilina cascarda, Fabritio Caroso, Il Ballarino, Venice, 1581. We danced the sequence twice, once up the dance space and once back, interpreting the last figure as joust. Full notes in book 7 in my Dancing through the Ages.
Daniel Cowper, version in The dancing master,
Vol.1, ed.9 of 1695 to ed. 18 of 1728 Longways dance for as many as will. Dance
by this name said to be favourite of Count Rostov in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
Full notes on steps in book 12 and 18 of my Dancing through the Ages. Country Bumpkin, known from several late 18th century and early 19th century Scottish manuscripts and dance manuals, and described as danced at a party in Australia in 1843. I presented the short version which I present alongside notes on a fuller version in book 18 version of my Dancing through the Ages.
Baltic Crossing, by JGG and in my Lost Dances of
Earthly Delights, Volume 2, Canberra, 2005. Ideally for 16 dancers.
Thursday & Friday 18 & 19 July - evening workshop with dance group 'Ballare'
Zirgu iela 1, Riga, LATVIA
Thursday
La Bonetta in c.1580 ‘Dulwich Manuscript’ Dulwich
College MS XCIV/f.28), London- set to La Bounette tune in the c.1560
‘Mulliner book’ in British Library Ms. Add. 30513. The dance is in the family
of Inns of court Almains. We left it to dancers to decide what figure they
would like to accompany the 6 walking steps in the last part of the sequence.
Full notes will be in book 6 in my Dancing through the Ages Dec.2019.
Bellezze d’Olympia in Fabritio Caroso [Roman dancing
master], Nobilità di dame, Venice, 1600. This version is different to
the version Caroso published in 1581 – it is more symmetrical and requires 6
playings of the tune not 5. The dance was composed by Caroso and dedicated to
Lady Olympia Orsina Cesi. Full notes in book 9 in my book 6 in my Dancing
through the Ages Dec.2019.
La bourréee à six passages in [Antoine Emerauld, Parisian
dancing master, c.1610] Instruction pour dancer les dances cy apres nominez to
2nd bourrée in tune set no.32 in Michael Praetorius’ Terpsichore,
Wolfenbüttel, 1621. We left out two small parts to make easier to
remember and so we could dance the sequence to 6 playings of the tune, not 7
playings as the original would require. We also left dancers to decide exactly
how they want to end the dance. This dance is in long tradition that is also
represented by the Congo menuet of c.1800. Full notes are in book 9 in Dancing
through the Ages Dec.2019.
La Gillotte, [same source as above]. We danced three of the figures, but there are
others described as well. Men can make the women jump at the end. Full notes in
book 7 in Dancing through the Ages.
Squilina cascarda, Fabritio Caroso, Il Ballarino, Venice,
1581. We danced the sequence twice, once up the dance space and once back,
interpreting the last figure as joust. Full
notes in book 7 in my Dancing through the Ages.
Mazurian Anglaise – debut of new dance composed by
JGG, to explore the possibilities mentioned by Ditrich Alexander Ivensenn,
Terpsichore: ein Taschenbuch für Freunde und Freundinnen des Tanzes in Liv-,
Kur und Ehstland, Riga, 1806, when he wrote that Der damalige Geschmack,
das Masurische in einer Angloisen-Kolonne zu tanzen, ist ein hiesige Erfindung
(‘The recent fad to dance the Masurian dance (i.e. Mazurka) in an Angloise
column [i.e. English country formation], is a local invention’ and he does not
approve of it. Full notes will be in my Odd Delights, Dec. 2019.
Friday
Canario steps described in Caroso, Il Ballarino, Venice,
1581, but we have overlapped the advances and retreats to make a more condensed
choreography. Full notes in book 5 in my Dancing through the Ages. The Nyne Muses in 1566 ‘Gunter manuscript’ GB-OB Ms Rawlinson Poet. 180. Found at end of collection of Inns of Court almains, but seems to be fragment of a masque. Will be in book 6 of my December 2019 Dancing through the Ages.Galliard dating, making a game out of Galliard steps described
in Thoinot Arbeau [real name, Jehan Tabourot French churchman] Orchesographie,
Langres, 1589. Full notes on steps are in book
5 and 8 in my Dancing through the Ages, and the choreography is in my Odd
Delights. Mazurian Ecosssaise composed by JGG exploring possibilities alluded to by Ivensenn, Terpsichore, Riga, 1806. Full notes are in my Odd Delights.
Sat. 15 June Winter/Summer Solstice Ball
Canberra Baptist Church Hall, Currie St., Kingston, 7-11pm.
We enjoyed lots of great company, lively music, food, friendship, and the following dances: 2 late 16th century English court dances: ‘La Bonnette’, from a newly found Inns of Court manuscript and ‘The nyne muses’ (perhaps a masque dance) from a different manuscript, 4 late 16th century Italian dances: ‘Bellezza Olympia’, a beautiful 2 person-dance; ‘Canario’ and ‘Galliard dating’, two fun show-off courting dances; Squilina, a flirting 3-person dance 3 early 17th century dances: ‘La Gillotte’, a broken-circle dance; ‘Bourrée à six passages’ that goes to the same tune later used for the English dance ‘Parson's Farewell’. 6 late-17th century English country dances: ‘Buff-coat’, ‘New Vagary’, ‘Singleton’s Slip’, ‘Skellemefago’ and ‘Smith’s Rant’ all for the first time, plus ‘Daniel Cowper’, one of my favourites. 6 fun Bordonian Lost dances: Sum 1. ‘Longway Home’; Town16. ‘Northern Stars Southern Skies’; Court 3. ‘Snowball Slalom’ Autumn 7 ‘Battering Ram’; Win. 4. ‘Past, Present, Future’; Vill. 13. ‘Baltic Crossing’ 
Steampunk@Altitude Festival - Sunday 5 May, Nimmitabel,Pre-event blurbWe haven't got the whole band and dance troupe going to this weekend-long Festival (hopefully will next year), but John&Aylwen are going down on Sunday with their new big colourful spinning time-wheel to enjoy getting some dancing going in their heritage hall. Do join them. Here is the blurb and photo (courtesy of Steven Shaw) in their program:
Time-travel through dance! Spin the dial and you’ll enjoy dances, dance games and music on strange instruments from any period the needle points to. Let the Dance Doctor (a.k.a. Dr John Gardiner-Garden, the director of the Earthly Delights Historical Dance Academy) and his hat-making wife Aylwen give you, your family and friends a healthy dose of fun in the Nimmitabel hall at 11:00, 12:30 and 2:00pm.
Post-event program
Aylwen and I had three really fun sessions getting everyone (including lots of children) spinning the time-wheel and dancing randomly across the centuries (big thanks to experienced dancer David Hughes for joining us and helping it all go well!). The dances we ended up doing included the following (with Roman numeral referring to the relevant Volume from Dancing through the Ages Volumes). There may also have been one or two I've forgotten (time-travelling can be very disorienting!):
I
Petit rinense
II
Branle L’officiel
Chiara stella (which I modified for a large inward facing circle and instead of the final figure hand turns had a big mill each way with hands on arm of one in front)
III
Chirping of the Nightingale
IV
Gathering Peascods
New
Bopeep
V
(I don't recall the time-wheel taking us to this period!)
VI
Black dance / La Galopade
Comical Fellow
VII
(I don't recall the time-wheel taking us to this period!)
VIII
Gothic Dance (will be in forthcoming supplement to 1st edition of DTA)
IX
The Prisoner (which I modified for a large circle- and set to 32 bars instead of 24, giving the active dancer 16 bars rather than 8 to imprison themselves (with a right-hand shake to all the opposites and then a right-hand turn with partner).
X
Baby
Polka (with progression of partner) Galop 4 / Danish Galop / Manchester Galop
JANE AUSTERN FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA - 12-14 April JAFA 2019 was the 12th in this remarkable annual celebration of everything Georgian, Regency and Victorian.
Three full days and nights of costume, music, dance, food and friendship at Canberra’s beautiful Albert Hall.
The daytime activities choices—all with top presenters from around the country— included classes on sewing and singing, workshops on costume making and hair styling, talks on history and novels, impro-theater rehearsals, outdoor games, and previews of all the dances planned for the evening balls. On the final day there was also be a promenade and picnic. See the full festival program here. Each evening everyone came together for a ball on a different historical theme and with different special performances. There were Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy dance leaders, great musicians on grand piano, cello, clarinet, flute, pipes, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin and guitar), the superb choir I progetti and theatre presented both by ACT Impro and by a Kirsty Budding troupe (performing a scene from Pride and Prejudice). These local artists were joined by wonderful interstate dance leaders David Wanless and Vaughan Wilson and fantastic interstate musicians Deanna Devers (harp and piano), Hannah Buckley (violin) and Aimee Brown (recorder). By the end of the weekend we understood why Jane Austen wrote in Pride and Prejudice that ‘To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love’ and ‘There is nothing like dancing after all. —I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies’, why she had Mr Tilney declare in Northanger Abbey that ‘I consider a country-dance as an emblem of marriage’ and why it is remarked in Emma ‘when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt—it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more’. We are grateful to Andrew Corson for the ball videos that follow. Great memories!
Our apologies that our PA arrangement, though working for the dancers on the floor, didn’t balance instruments for these distant overhead recording… but the atmosphere and main features are captured. Here are some short 10-13 minute overview videos.
HISTORY OF ENGLAND in DANCE! - TUDOR TO GEORGIAN PLEASURES EVENING
Albert Hall, Canberra: Friday 12 April 2019
In between readings from one of the first and funniest books Jane Austen wrote, her ‘History of England’, enjoy participatory dance from the time of the Kings and Queens she mentions, though to the Georgian era that offered the styles of Jane’s adolescence. Enjoy also the fabulous choral ensemble I progetti and a candle-lit supper. Dress Georgian, Regency or semi-formal.
JAFA 2019 - Friday Ball.mp4
In the first half of the evening, in between readings by Katarina Hall of Austen’s very fun ‘History of England’ we sampled dances from the periods of the reigns referred to. JAFA 2019 - B1 History of England Reading.mp4
From Tudor England: Basse d’Espagne- popular all over Europe at the time and mentioned in an English novel Eglamowr – a fun dance named after the hero of the Sir Eglamour and Christabel romance *Prenes a gard—a fancy dance from the Derbyshire Gresley manuscript From Elizabethan England: Madame Cecilia—with lots of flirting La Chemise—from a newly discovered manuscript Spagnoletta—where the women get to lift the men! From Stuart England: *Lansdowne no. 4— an incredibly fancy pattern to a great tune. JAFA 2019 - B1 Lansdowne No4.mp4
Goddesses—a fabulous romp to a catchy tune Aye me Symphony—a fun 3-part ‘Playford’ dance *Masque of the Season—bringing a rare manuscript’s dance and music to life. JAFA 2019 - B1 Masque of the Seasons.mp4
Mr Lane’s Magot—with guest singer Half Hannykin—an easy mixer SUPPER Guest vocal ensemble I Progetti presented songs from the Austen family music books and then sung for:
*Emma’s Song—‘Go down to the garden singing’ in this dance Handel’ Non lo dirò col labbro *Wachet Auf—a beautiful contradance to Bach’s beautiful cantataJAFA 2019 - B1 I Progetti Choir.mp4
Dances from the 18th century Georgian-era: Mr Young’s Delight—an elegant longways dance Trip to Paris—a longways English country dance to a hit from the Paris opera *Minuet d’Alcide—a uncalled fancy French opera choreography
Dances to Bach Fleeting moments—a cotillion allemande to the minuets of Bach cello suite no.1 *The Conundrum—an amazing 2-couple bourrée to Bach’s cello suite 4. JAFA 2019 - B1 The Conundrum.mp4
More longways and squares dances: Le Bois de Boulogne Irish Washer Woman—a simple longways dance to match this lively tune. Two finales with twists!: CountryBumpkin—with ahat on the head of your set’s bumpkin, reel! Meditation Chinoise—a double-sized set that will have you doubled over laughing! JAFA 2019 - B1 Meditation Chinoise.mp4
JAFA 2019 - B1 Meditation Chinoise_Full.mp4
GRAND NAPOLEONIC BALL—JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL BALL Albert Hall, Canberra: Saturday 13 April 2019
JAFA 2019 - Saturday Ball.mp4
Between opening grand march and closing fun novelties, we enjoyed mixers, squares and longways country dances from Jane’s lifetime, with matching music from period English, French, Scottish and newly discovered Australian sources. Special features were two big dances—one miming the game of Chess and one set to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Enjoy also our guest theatre ensemble presented a scene from Pride and Prejudice, fabulous guest harpist, guest singer, and candle-lit supper.
Two traditional ball openers: *Minuet (3) A Grand March into The Cuirassiers—a quadrille in the tradition of the Lancers and Hussars sampled at other JAFA Period crazes: Perigordine—a fun mixer to name-sake music written out in Jane Austen’s music books Petersen’s English dance no.5—a corner stealing dance to music from Germany, France and England Carillon de Dunkerque—a promiscuous clapping dance popular in England Five longways dances: L’Augustin Waltz—a simple way devised in 1810’s England to enjoy this German folk song De’il among Tailors—a simple way to enjoy this fabulous Scottish tune. *Grossvater tanz National Waltz—one man between 2 women in this progressive pleasure. Hull’s Victory— stomping with a dance and tune that go back to the 1812 war in North America.
SUPPER and Kirsty Budding Theatre presents a scene from their upcoming ‘Pride and Prejudice’. JAFA 2019 - B2 Budding Theatre.mp4
Pan European: The European flag dance—makingstars in big circles to Beethoven’s stirring ‘Ode of Joy’ Wechsel Vals Drops of Brandy—putting some lively Irish stepping into this longways dance Three dances with a difference: -(pawns)/*(nobles) The Chess Dance—for sets of 32! We have life-size boards for two sets! JAFA 2019 - The Chess Dance.mp4
Réverbère—an example of the ingenious square dances being created for social pleasure. *Mazurian Ecossaise—capturing an 1806 Latvia craze, a hybrid of two of the most popular dance forms of the day. A triple finale: The Battle of Waterloo (by John G-G)—debuted in 2015, back by popular demand! JAFA 2019 - The Battle of Waterloo.mp4
JAFA 2019 - B2 The Battle of Waterloo.mp4
Opera Reel—a fun simple dance to this driving Scotch tune
Congo minuet—the wild early 19th century way to enjoy the most-esteemed dance of the 18th century.
VICTORIAN MASQUERADE
Albert Hall, Canberra: Sunday 14 April 2019 JAF 2019 - Sunday Ball.mp4
Dress was from Tudor to Victorian (Regency still welcome,). The post-Jane dances for all included an1820s gallopade to the ‘William Tell’ overture, a beautiful quadrille from 1830s Denmark, a can-can quadrille from 1840s France, the ‘Rose Bay Quadrille’ from 1850s Australia, a 'Gothic dance' from 1860s America, and an English 'village' dance with scarfs. There was also be supper, reels, games, couples and country dances and final farewells.
Grand costume parade into a 5-figure Quadrille set to the 'Rose-Bay Quadrilles' in the Australia Musical Album for 1857. JAFA 2019 - B3 Rose Bay Quadrille.mp4
Nine dances in all different formations rhythms and styles: A Swedish dance—a fun way for ranks of 1-man-between-2-women to meet different opposites. Lowe’s Galopade—to the thrilling 1829 'William Tell' overture. Triolet Waltzer (1830s)—men dance with every woman in the room in this fun 1-to-2 mixer. Les Sylphides (late 1820s)—a famous elegant Danish quadrille to this beautiful ballet music. JAFA 2019 - B3 Les Sylphides.mp4
Recital of amusing poem by Gilbert (of G&S fame) by Sarah Bull JAFA 2019 - B3 Sarah Bull Recital.mp4
Redowa or Valse Patineurs—last year we featured the mid-century polka, this year a triple time craze. Fancy Quadrille figure, The Basket—set to the uplifting ‘Life let us cherish’, with guest singer Adela. The Gothic Dance—bring out our Northanger Abbey theme with this fun arching galop. *Five steps to Heaven —John's medley of some snazzy variants in another mid-century couple dance craze. JAFA 2019 - B3 Five Steps Waltz.mp4
Le Polo—a late 19th century French quadrille that became a world-wide hit. JAFA 2019 - B3 Le Polo.mp4
SUPPER with ACT Impro theatre Nine more dances in all different formations rhythms and styles: Greensleeves—(by Robert Crompton, 1890s) a manifestation of the English nostalgia for the village green. Ribbons supplied! Ostendaise—a simple way to couples dance, and we’ll share the fun by progressing partners. The Orpheus Quadrille—revisit the standard quadrille done left-bank Paris Can-can style! JAFA 2019 - B3 Orpheus Quadrille.mp4
*La Parisienne— a medley of the popular waltz, polka, schottish and polka-mazurka. *Reel of Nine—(Anderson, 1890s) a fun challenge for sets of 3 men and 6 women Waltz futsal (John G-G) inspired by 'The Boston Ball' (Paris, 1890s) which crossed waltzing and indoor soccer! Charge of Light Brigade—from 1860s- a thrilling finale. Free Waltz JAFA 2019 - B3 La Parisienne.mp4
Here is the general JAFA 2019 poster
|
