Danse de Cleves

Burgundian bassedanse, unknown choreographer.
For one couple. (Can be any number of couples in a processional format.)
Based on the reconstruction by Ingrid Brainard, 1981 (but using 15th-century Italian steps.)

Steps: all done "in 6" = Reverenza, continenza (branle in original), sempio, doppio, ripresa (reprise or desmarche in original).
Start:  One couple, side by side, holding hands, Woman on the right, facing up the hall.
 

      Opening Honours (2 bars)
Reverenza Left, Continenza Left and Right.

      Travel (6 bars)
Sempio Left, Sempio Right,
Doppio Left, Doppio Right, Doppio Left,
Sempio Right, Sempio Left,
Doppio Right, backwards.

      Flowers (4 bars)
Man Sempio Left, Sempio Right, forward, then Doppio Left backwards,
 as Woman Sempio Left, Sempio Right, Doppio Left in a clockwise circle,
Man Sempio Right, Sempio Left, Doppio Right in a counterclockwise circle,
 as Woman Sempio Right, Sempio Left, forward, then Doppio Right backwards.

      Small Travel (4 bars)
Sempio Left, Sempio Right, Doppio Left,
Ripresa Right, Continenza Left, Continza Right.

      Hearts (4 bars)
Sempio Left, Sempio Right, angling outward from each other (Man to the left, Woman to the right)
Doppio Left, turning inward (toward each other), to end side by side, Woman on the Right, facing down the hall,
(The 2 sempii and doppio make a heart shape, each dancer doing half of the heart)
Sempio Right, Sempio Left, angling outward from each other (Man to the right, Woman to the left)
Doppio Right, turning inward, to end side by side, Woman on the Left, facing up the hall again.

      Travel (exactly like last time) (6 bars)
Sempio Left, Sempio Right,
Doppio Left, Doppio Right, Doppio Left,
Sempio Right, Sempio Left,
Doppio Right, backwards.

      Closing Honours (reverse of opening honours) (2 bars)
Continenza Left, Continenza Right, Reverenza Left.


Recordings:

The Companions of St. Cecilia - Vol 1 - Introduction of one bar of drum. The drum rhythm throughout is "ONE - three four five six" for each half bar (one bar being here defined as the time to do one doppio.) One final drum beat at the end.

Sonare et Balare - One beat introduction.

Music From the Time of Richard III - One bar introduction. Bit of music at the end - should be pretty clear that it is after the dance has stopped. Used this recording in class.

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