500 AD TO 1500 AD

Medieval Dance

Brief History:

The majority of the people during this period lived in the country and worked as farmers, called peasants.

There was a local lord who lived a large manor house or a castle.

The local peasants would work the land for the lord and worked hard all year long growing crops.

Peasants lived in one or two room houses where everyone slept in the same room, even their animals.

Homes were dark, smoky, and very uncomfortable.

City life wasn’t any easier though. The cities were crowded and dirty.

People who lived in the city worked as craftsmen, servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.

These people also lived in one or two room houses, sharing a room with everyone else, but animals did not come in.

Basic Facts:

What we know about dance in the middle ages is limited.

Artifacts are limited and fragmentary, but we can study paintings, illuminated texts, and literary texts to find out what we can.

Keep in mind that this time period was very controlled by the church and dancing may not have been considered appropriate according to its standards.

Eventually, the church changed its views and some dances were added to the services and sermons.

Dance accompaniments were provided by drums, lutes, bells, tambourines, and singing.

The dance that evolved from the middle ages brings together a rich experience influenced by many cultures.

Unfortunately, we do not have detailed descriptions of the procedures and steps for each dance. We can only make inferences based on the information we do have.

Types of Medieval Dances: Circle Dances

Carol: this is a chain dance where people form a circle while holding hands and dancing to singing.

Sellingers Round: A circle dance where couples are forming a circle with the woman being on her partner’s right as she and her partner alternate steps and turns.

Official Branle: Branle is a French term for shake. In this dance, couples form a circle and move from side to side. They may change partners at given times.

Estampie: This dance replaced circle dances by introducing the line where couples would face the public to dance. This used more instruments and less singing as well.

Saltarello: It is a lively and acrobatic type of dance that contains jumps and leaps. Saltare is an Italian verb that means to jump.

Types of Medieval Dances: Court Dances

Basse Dance: This dance was performed by a couple using slow and low movements and almost looked like they were walking.

Black Almain: This dance was a passive dance used for processional entrances into a court.

Black Nag: This is a lively dance performed by three couples using a verse-refrain form.

Rufty Tufty: Two couples make many turns and link onto other couples as they join the dance.

Types of Medieval Dances: Line Dances

Prince William: This is a country dance that involves making figure eights around bails of hay.

La Spagna: This is one of the few dances that starts on the right foot instead of the left. Couples take each other’s right hand and turn to each other, followed by moving away and dropping hands. They move in together again, then turn to face the line and join hands again.

The Morris Dance: This dance is the oldest dance and has remained the same since King Edward III. It is danced around a maypole with bells adorning the knees and dancers carrying sticks that represent swords. It is a lively dance and represents the story of Robin Hood.

Types of Medieval Dances: Country Dances

Scottish Dance: Scottish dances are like types of folk dances and is identified by line dances or circle dances, where couples face each other. It can also be a line dance where couples face the public. These dances typically contain plenty of clapping and spinning.

The Egg Dance: This dance is named after a popular Medieval Easter game. The goal is to dance with the eggs and try to damage them as little as possible.

Quadrille: This dance happens with 5 or more people participating. It is a court dance and was like a slow processional.

Pavan: A slow processional dance very much like the Black Almain, but performed twice as fast.

Farandole: This is a line dance recognized by its snake like movements.

Burgundian Dance: This dance was performed by nobles and was a couples dances that shows the prominence of togetherness and strong culture.