Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Orchésography

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Basse dance 5
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The choreographic system of Thoinot Arbeau (Jehan Tabouro, 1519-1595) used an alphabetic code to describe dance steps (movements). However, this system was in certain respects very primitive as details used to describe foot and body movements are effectively absent in an alphabetic code. "R" might abbreviate a "reverence", but how is a "reverence" done (what does it look like)? No costumes are described by an alphabetic code. An alphabetic code does not describe the music, nor how the music is correlated to dance steps. Finally, an alphabetic code does not describe the geometric paths dancers use on the dance floor space. All these aspects of dance evolved and this evolution can be seen in Arbeau's "Orchésography!

A Description of Different Dance Movements or Steps, Costumes, Stage Geometry

1 Révérence
2 Pieds Joints
3 Pieds Largis
4 Pieds Largis Obliques Droit et Gauche
5 Révérence Passagière Droit et Gauche
6 Pieds Croisé
7 Marque Pied and Marque Talon
8 Grue (pied en l'air, or forward kick) Droit et Gauche
9 Ruade (kick) Droite et Gauche et Ru de Vache (kick sideways) Droite et Gauche
10 Posture Droite et Gauche
11 Capriole (jump, big jump, small jump)
12 Steps and Ensemble Movements on the Stage: Les Buffons

Music Correlated to Dance Choreography: 11 Dances

1 Basse Danza
2 Tordion
3 Galliarde: Baisons Nous Belle
4 Galliarde: La Milanaise
5 La Volte
6 Courante
7 L' Allemande
8 Branle Doubles
9 Gavotte
10 Morisques
11 Canaries
12 Les Buffons

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