Baroque Dance Basics for Beginners

What is Baroque Dance?

The term "Baroque Dance" refers to European ballroom and theatrical dance of the late 17th and early 18th centuries -- the precursor to today's ballet, as danced by both amateurs and professionals at the time of Louis XIV of France. Because dance played a prominent role in society during this period, dancing masters developed dance notation systems and published treatises that provide detailed descriptions of steps used in baroque dance. Thus, we are able to reconstruct baroque dance steps and choreographies with a satisfying degree of accuracy.

Baroque dance is early ballet: it uses turnout and a vertical carriage of the body, just as ballet does. It involves lots of bending and rising, small jumps, and low extensions. Movements can be light and quick, or more sustained; either way, control and placement are important. Connection to the music is crucial. Each class includes a warmup, practice of basic steps and step sequences typical of different dance types (e.g., bourrée, gavotte, sarabande, gigue, menuet) in different meters and rhythms, and excerpts from notated baroque ballroom and theatrical dances.

Classes are designed for adults or older teens.

Danced by Ken Pierce and Jennifer Thorp; choreography by Guillaume-Louis Pécour, reconstructed by the dancers from Beauchamp-Feuillet notation.

Baroque Dance Basics
Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30 pm
This is a sign-in program - please see session dates below.

Description: Learn some of the basic steps used in bourrées, gavottes, sarabandes, menuets, gigues, and other Baroque dances. Each class will begin with a warmup. Then we’ll learn or review steps in a variety of combinations, at different tempos and in different meters (duple, triple, compound), paying attention to timing, use of weight, and connection from one step to the next. Some Baroque dance steps -- pas de bourrée, coupé, contretemps, pirouettes, jetés, pas de sissone, assemblé -- have the same names as in today’s ballet; in some cases, their execution is similar to today’s, but not always!

By the end of the four-week session, students can expect to have a basic understanding of Baroque dance vocabulary and of the ways in which Baroque dance steps are used in different dance types.

For teens or adults who have some experience in any style of dance. Wear comfortable clothing and flexible dance shoes.

Dress code: Wear comfortable clothing and flexible dance shoes.

Price:
Full program of 4 classes $55
Drop in $17 (drop ins only allowed in the first class)

Fall 2017 Sessions:
Sept 13, 20, 27, Oct 4
Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1
Nov 8, 15, 29, Dec 6 (no class on Nov 22)

Winter/Spring 2018 Sessions:
Jan 17, 24, 31, Feb 7
Feb 14, 21, 28, March 7
March 14, 21, 28, April 4
April 18, 25, May 2, 9

Register on Mindbody, or in-person at INTEGRARTE.

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