The Elizabethan Age Dance

Dancing was an extremely popular past time during this time and was considered “a wholesome recreation of the mind and also an exercise of the body”.New music and instruments led to the creation of new dancesThe dances varied to the social classesCourt dances enjoyed by royalty, nobility and upper classes were often imported from Italy, Spain, or France.These dance forms varied form the energetic Galliard to the refined Pavane The lower classes enjoyed more traditional country dances such as the Jig, Morris dancing, the Brand, or the Brawle which were usually danced at festivals in Elizabethan, England

General Facts

Upper ClassUpper class enjoyed new types of music at courtDancing Masters were employed to teach the new dancesThese dances were highly sophisticated and had intricate steps, but the old country dances were still popularMany of the court dances were couplesThe Volt was the only dance which allowed the dancers to embrace closelyThe form of entertainment call the Masque was more popular with the upper classThey were accompanied with music and dance at the beginning, end, and during the interludesThe dances usually had names like the ‘Tinkernell’ and ‘Maske of Queens’Dancing Masters each printed and distributed dance manualsIt included different dance steps including walking steps, sliding, stamping, leaping, jumping, and hopping.

Queen Elizabeth IEncouraged music and dancePatron of all the Arts and encouraged composers and musicians Continued strenuous dancing into her late 50’s

Lower ClassThey only heard the new music and saw the intricate steps and fashion in theatreDances were danced by couples in round or square setsDances were repetitiveThey were passed down through generationsDifferent types of country dances were popular with everyonePerformed at fairs and festivals

DancesUpper Class Lower Class

Ballet – Italian dance established at the French court in the 16th Century

The Canary – Spanish dance described as “strange and fantastic with a strong barbaric flavor”

The Jig – Traditionally involved leaps

The Hornpipe – Lively dance resembling a jig. The dance became linked with sailors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ35ZkLkJJ4&feature=related

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Cites

http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-dance.htm