Villanella

The dance Villanella is a balletto, appearing in Il Ballarino by Fabritio Caroso. It is dedicated to The Lady Princess of Selmona.

Reconstruction

Steps Used

• Riverenza left (RvL)
• Continenza left and right (CnL and CnR)
• Ripresa left and right (RpL and RpR)
• Passo Gravo left and right (PsL and PsR)
• Seguito left and right (SgL and SgR)
• Seguito Spezzato left and right (SzL and SzR)

Choreography

Starting Position

This is a dance performed by one couple, a man and a woman.

First playing

Holding hands in the customary manner the couple performs a Riverenza, followed by a Continenza left and a Continenza right. They then proceed up the hall with two Seguiti, and finish with a Continenza left and two Riprese right.

RvL
CL, CR
SgL, SgR
CL, RpL, RpR

Second Playing

The couple advance with a Passo left, a Passo right and a Seguito left. They continue with another two Passi and a seguito, this time on opposite feet.

To conclude the couple perform Continenza left, two Riprese right and a Riverenza left. This becomes the standard conclusion for every time the music is played through.

PsL, PsR, SgL
PsR, PsL, SgR
CL, RpL, RpR
RvL

Third Playing

The man passes in front of the lady with a Passo left, a Passo right and a Seguito left, then a Passo right, a Passo left and a Seguito right. He should now be facing up the hall, alongside the lady, and holding her right hand with his left.

To conclude the couple perform Continenza left, two Riprese right and a Riverenza left.

PsL, PsR, SgL (man only, passing in front of lady)
PsR, PsL, SgR (still man only, man ending up on lady's right, facing up the hall)
CL, RpL, RpR
RvL

Fourth Playing

The lady passes in front of the man with a Passo left, a Passo right and a Seguito left, then a Passo right, a Passo left and a Seguito right. She should now be facing up the hall, alongside the man, and holding his right hand with her left.

To conclude the couple perform Continenza left, two Riprese right and a Riverenza left.

PsL, PsR, SgL (lady only, passing in front of man)
PsR, PsL, SgR (still man only, man ending up next on man's right, facing up the hall)
CL, RpL, RpR
RvL

Fifth Playing

The couple then advance with two Passi, left and right. They then turn with a Seguito left, the man over his left shoulder, the lady over her right. The couple move down the hall with two Passi, right and left. They then turn with a Seguito right, the man over his left shoulder, the lady over her right.

To conclude the couple perform Continenza left, two Riprese right and a Riverenza left.

PsL, PsR, SgL (turning 180 degrees, away from each other)
PsR, PsL, SgR (turning 180 degrees, towards each other)
CL, RpL, RpR
RvL

Sixth Playing

Taking right hands the couple change places with two Spezzati, left and right. They then turn over their left shoulders with two Spezzati, left and right. Holding left hands they change places once more with two Spezzati, left and right. They then turn over their right shoulders with two Spezzati, left and right.

To conclude the couple perform Continenza left, two Riprese right and a Riverenza left.

SzL, SzR (holding left hands, changing places), SzL, SzR (turning over left shoulders)
SzL, SzR (holding right hands, changing places), SzL, SzR (turning over right shoulders)
CL, RpL, RpR
RvL

Other reconstructions

• Reconstruction from Del's Dance Book

External Links

• Original transcription
• Translation of the original text