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Rewind to 1400 Fast Forward to 1600
For the full list of manuals (from 15th century to present), see the Complete List.
Johannes Cochläus. (1517). The Nürnberg Manuscript. Nürnberg Ms. (pdf) {Lindahl} [Powers]
Robert Coplande. (1521). Manner of Dauncynge of Bace Daunces. London. (Patri transcription) [Powers]
Jacques Moderne. (c. 1532). S'ensuyvent Plusieurs Basses Dances Tant Communes Que Incommunes. Ms. (pdf) (Mathias translation) {Lindahl}
Antoine Arena. (1538). Antonius Arena, Provincialis de Bragardissima Villa de Soleriis. Leone. (pdf) {BNF}
Notes: Includes basse dance step sequences starting on p. 91 of the pdf.
[Anonymous]. (c. 1550). Reglas de Dançar. Madrid.
Giovannino e Il Lanzino e Il Papa. (c. 1550). Manoscritto Di Balletti. Fiorenza. (Casazza & Cain transcription)
Dances
» La Vita
» Ippiter
» Lasso
» No(n) Mi Parto
» I Tromboni
» La Traditora
» Lucretia
» Che Faralla
» La Primauera
» La Reale
» La Franciosetta
» Lo Dimostra
» La Villanella
» Baramattio
» Fiametta
Francesco Berdusi. (1553). Opera Nova Di Balli. Venetia. (pdf) {BSB}
Lutio Compasso. (1560). Ballo Della Galiarda. Opera Nuova E Dilettevole. Fiorenza [Florence].
Giovvani Evangelista Pappazzoni. (c. 1576-1608). Tractatus De Arte Saltandi Italicus. Ms. (ONB)
Fabritio Caroso. (1581). Il Ballarino. Venice. (pdf1) (pdf2) (pdf3) (djvu) {Lindahl} {imslp} {congress} {archive} [Powers]
Fabritio Caroso, Margaret Roe (translation/reconstruction). (1581/2011). Il Ballarino: Steps and Dances. United States. [Enge]
Dances
» Alba Novella (New Dawn) (p. 72)
» Allegrezza d'Amore (Gladness of Love) (p. 76)
» Alta Morona (High Morona) (p. 80)
» Alta Orsina (High Orsina) (p. 84)
» Alta Ragonia (High Ragonia) (p. 87)
» Alta Regina (Great Queen) (p. 90)
» Alta Ruissa (High Ruissa) (p. 93)
» Alta Sergarda (High Sergarda) (p. 97)
» Alta Vittoria (High Vittoria) (p. 100)
» Amor Constante (Constant Love) (p. 105)
» Amor Felice (Happy Love) (p. 110)
» Amor Mio (My Love) (p. 115)
» Ardente Sole (Burning Sun) (p. 119)
» Austria Gonzaga (Southern Gonzaga) (p. 124)
» Ballo del Fiore (Dance of the Flower) (p. 128)
» Ballo del Fiore (Dance of the Flower) in Three (p. 130)
» Ballo del Piantone (Dance of the Tree or of the Cheap Trick/Con) (p. 133)
» Barriera (Barrier) (p. 139)
» Barriera (Barrier) to Be Made in Six (p. 143)
» Bassa Colonna (Low Colonna) (p. 148)
» Bassa Ducale (p. 151)
» Bassa et Alta (Low and High) (p. 154)
» Bassa Honorata (Low Honorata) (p. 158)
» Bassa Pompilia (Low Pompilia) (p. 161)
» Bassa Romana (Low Roman) (p. 164)
» Bassa Savella (Low Savella) (p. 168)
» Bassa Toscana (Low Tuscan) (p. 172)
» Bella Gioiosa (Beautiful Joy) (p. 176)
» Le Belleze d'Olimpia (Beauty of Olimpia) (p. 181)
» Bentivoglio (p. 186)
» Il Canario (p. 189)
» Candida Luna (White Moon) (p. 198)
» La Castellana (p. 202)
» Cesarina (Empress) (p. 205)
» Cesia Orsina (Cesia Orsina) (p. 209)
» Chiara Stella (Clear Star) (p. 214)
» Chiaranzana (Song of Leaping) (p. 218)
» Contentezza d'Amore (Contentment of Love) (p. 224)
» Il Conto dell'Orco (The Tale of the Sea Monster) (p. 227)
» Contrapasso (Counterpace) (p. 229)
» Contrapasso Nuovo (New Counterpace) (p. 234)
» Coppia Cappelli (Cappelli Couple) (p. 237)
» Copia or Coppia Felice (Happy Couple) (p. 240)
» Coppia Matthei (Matthei Couple) (p. 244)
» Dolce Amoroso Foco (Sweet Lover's Fire) (p. 247)
» Este Gonzaga (p. 251)
» Fedeltà (Fidelity) (p. 255)
» Felice Vittoria (Happy Vittoria) (p. 258)
» Fiamma d'Amore (Flame of Love) (p. 263)
» Florido Giglio (Flowering Lily) (p. 266)
» Fulgente Stella (Shining Star) (p. 271)
» Furioso (Furious) (p. 275)
» Gagliarda di Spagna (Galliard of Spain) (p. 273)
» Gentilezza d'Amore (Gentleness of Love) (p. 278)
» Giunto m'ha Amore (Love Has Passed Me) (p. 281)
» Gloria d'Amore (Glory of Love) (p. 285)
» Gracca Amorosa (Lover's Prattle) (p. 288)
» Gratia d'Amore (Grace of Love) (p. 292)
» Laccio d'Amore (Snare of Love) (p. 295)
» Leggiadra Ninfa (Beauteous Nymph) (p. 298)
» Leggiadria d'Amore (Beauty of Love) (p. 302)
» Lucretia Favorita (Favorite Lucretia) (p. 306)
» Maraviglia d'Amore (Marvel of Love) (p. 309)
» Nobiltà (Nobility) (p. 313)
» Nuova Fenice (New Phoenix) (p. 316)
» Occhi Leggiadri (Beautiful Eyes) (p. 319)
» Ombrosa Valle (Shady Valley) (p. 321)
» Passo E Mezo (Step and a Half) (p. 325)
» Pavana Matthei (Matthei Pavan) (p. 336)
» Pavaniglia (p. 341)
» Pungente Dardo (Sharp/Pricking Dart) (p. 354)
» Rustica Amorosa (Rustic Lover) (p. 357)
» Rustica Palina (Rustic Palina) (p. 360)
» Saporita (Savored) (p. 364)
» Se Pensand'al Partire (If Thinking to Leave) (p. 368)
» Spagnoletta (Little Spaniard) (p. 370)
» Spagnoletta Nuova (New Little Spaniard) (p. 374)
» Squvilina (Lady of Squillace) (p. 379)
» Tordiglione (p. 389)
» Torneo Amoroso (Tournament Lover) (p. 399)
» Villanella (Country Lass) (p. 404)
» Vita, E Quanto Haggio (Life, and How Much I Have (p. 407)
Thoinot Arbeau [Jehan Tabourat]. (1589). Orchésographie. Lengres. (pdf 1) (pdf 2) {BNF 1} {BNF 2} [Enge] [Powers]
Note: First pdf is dated 1589, and the second one is undated, but the BNF lists it as circa "1588-1589."
Dances
» Basse-Dance (p. 24)
» Tourdion & Gaillarde (p. 38)
» La Volte (p. 63)
» La Courante (p. 65)
» L'Allemande (p. 67)
» Branle Double (p. 68)
» Branle Simple (p. 71)
» Branle Gay (p. 71)
» B. de Bourgoigne (p. 72)
» B. du Hault Barrois (p. 73)
» Branle Couppé Nommé Cassandre (p. 74)
» Branle Couppé Appellé Pinagay (p. 75)
» Branle Couppé Charlotte (p. 76)
» Branle Couppé de la Guerre (p. 77)
» Branle Couppé Appellé Aridan (p. 78)
» Branle de Poictou (p. 79)
» Branle d'Escosse (p. 79)
» Triory de Bretagne (p. 81)
» Branle de Malte (p. 82)
» B. des Lavandieres (p. 83)
» Branle des Pois (p. 84)
» B. des Hermites (p. 85)
» B. du Chandelier (Branle de la Torche) (p. 86)
» Branle des Sabots (p. 87)
» B. des Chevaulx (p. 88)
» B. de la Montarde (p. 89)
» Branle de la Haye (p. 90)
» B. de l'Official (p. 91)
» Gavotes (p. 93)
» Morisques (p. 94)
» Canaries (p. 95)
» Pavane d'Espagne (p. 96)
» Les Bouffons (p. 97)
› Passage des Trois Coups (p. 101)
› Passage des Quinze Coups (p. 102)
› Passage de l'Estocade (p. 102)
› Passage du Bastion (p. 103)
› Passage de la Haye (p. 103)
Thoinot Arbeau [Jehan Tabourat]. (©1589/1925). Orchésographie [1925 Cyril W. Beaumont Edition]. Langres. [Powers] [WorldCat]
Thoinot Arbeau [Jehan Tabourat]. (©1589/1948). Orchésographie [1948 Mary Stewart Evans Edition]. Langres. [Powers] [WorldCat]
Thoinot Arbeau [Jehan Tabourat]. (©1589/1967). Orchésographie [1967 Julia Sutton Edition]. Langres. [Enge] [Powers]
Dances
» Basse Dance (p. 51)
» Tordion & Galliard (p. 76)
» Lavolta (p. 119)
» The Coranto (p. 123)
» The Alman (p. 125)
» The Double Branle (p. 128)
» The Single Branle (p. 132)
» The Gay Branle (p. 133)
» The Burgundian Branle (p. 134)
» The Branle of Haut Barrois (p. 132)
» The Mixed Branle Called Cassandra (p. 138)
» The Branle Called Pinagay (p. 139)
» The Mixed Branle, Charlotte (p. 141)
» The Mixed Branle of War (p. 143)
» The Mixed Branle Called Aridan (p. 145)
» The Branle of Poitou (p. 146)
» The Scottish Branle (p. 148)
» The Trihory of Brittany (p. 151)
» The Maltese Branle (p. 153)
» The Washerwomen's Branle (p. 155)
» The Pease Branle (p. 157)
» The Hermits' Branle (p. 159)
» The Candlestick Branle (p. 161)
» The Clog Branle (p. 163)
» The Horses Branle (p. 165)
» The Montarde Branle (p. 167)
» The Hay Branle (p. 169)
» The Official Branle (p. 172)
» The Gavotte (p. 175)
» Morris Dances (p. 177)
» The Canary (p. 179)
» The Spanish Pavan (p. 181)
» The Buffens (p. 182)
› The Three Cuts Passage (p. 190)
› The Fifteen Cuts Passage (p. 191)
› The Thrust Passage (p. 192)
› The Bastion Passage (p. 193)
› The Hay Passage (p. 194)
Prospero Luti. (1589). Opera Bellissima Nella Quale Si Contengono Molte Partite Et Passeggi Di Gagliarda. Perugia. (Casazza transcription) (Google translation of Casazza transcription)
Giovanni Boccaccio. (1590). Il Decamerone. Venice. [Powers] [WorldCat]
Thoinot Arbeau [Jehan Tabourat]. (1596). Orchésographie. Lengres. (pdf) {BNF} [Enge]
John Davies. (1596). Orchestra Or A Poeme Of Dauncing: Iudicially Proouing The True Obseruation Of Time And Measure, In The Authenticall And Laudable Vse Of Dauncing. London. (pdf) {EEBO}
Rewind to 1400 Fast Forward to 1600
For the full list of manuals (from 15th century to present), see the Complete List.
© 2013-2026 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
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