Low-dance

The low-dance is a dance of Bal of couple, slow and majestic, from where its name of low dance , in opposition to the dance high , sharper and hopping. The low-dance appears in the courses European at the beginning of the 15th century and cease to be with the mode at the end of the 16th century or at the beginning of.

Described towards 1455 by Domenico da Piacenza and its successors Guglielmo Ebreo and Antonio Cornazzano, the low-dance becomes popular later in France a few years and is abundantly described in two principal works: the Handwritten of the low - dances known as of Marie of Burgundy (towards 1495) and the Art and instruction of good dancer of Michel Toulouse (towards 1496).

Structure of the low-dance

The low-dance is made of several steps combined ad infinitum into different measurements.

Steps

the reverence , illustrated by the letter R : it is safety with the partner with whom one begins any low-dance
the step or taken again , appeared by the letter R :

a step: to pose the right foot slightly behind left, on point
three steps: (1) to pose the right foot slightly behind left, on point, (2) to pose the left foot on the left while turning itself right towards the lady, (3) to pose the right foot slightly behind left, on point, while returning to its initial position

the swing , illustrated by the letter B : two small side steps (left, right), the body accompanying the movement by a light oscillation
the simple , which always goes by two, appeared by the letters S :

first simple: left foot ahead, to join the right to the left
second simple: right foot ahead, to join to it left to the right (see Swing)

the double , illustrated by the letter D :

first double: 3 pas gone (left, right, left), to join the right to the left
second double: 3 pas gone (right, left, right), to join to it left to the right (see Swing)

To note that “two simple steps, a double step, a step and a swing occupy as much time one like the other”.

Measurements

The low-dance is divided into three parts, composed respectively of the sequences of following steps:

the great measurement, or entered of low-dance : R B S ddddd S rrr B (5 doubles)
the average measurement: S ddd S rrr B (3 doubles)
the small measurement: S D S rrr B (1 double)

Each measurement can be:

(very) perfect : S doubles S rrr B
more than perfect : S doubles imperfect S R B
: very imperfect S doubles rrr B
: S doubles R B

Combinations

The various combinations give the following table:

Some low - dances

Descriptions are identical in the manuscript of Brussels and the edition of Michel Toulouze.

small Rouen (with 40 notes with 5 measurements):

Girls to marry (with 32 notes with 4 measurements):

low-dance of Roy (with 48 notes with 5 measurements)

Low-dance according to Arbeau

In 1589, the Orchésographie of Thoinot Arbeau describes the low-dance like a sequence of three parts:

- the low-dance (let us note the alternation of D and R , equivalents in duration)

- the return of low-dance

- follow-up of the Tourdion

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