Contentezza d'Amore (Il Ballarino)

The dance Contentezza d'Amore (Contentment of Love) first appeared in Il Ballarino by Fabritio Caroso. He later printed a second version in Nobiltà di Dame to better fit his later dance sensibilites. It is dedicated to The Lady Portia Ceri Dell'Anguillara Cesi, Marquesse of Riano.

Reconstruction

Steps Used

• Riverenza left (RvL)
• Continenza left and right (CnL and CnR)
• Ripresa left and right (RpL and RpR)
• Puntata Grava left and right (PtL and PtR)
• Passo Gravo left and right (PsL and PsR)
• Seguito left and right (SgL and SgR)
• Seguito Spezzato left and right (SzL and SzR)
• Trabuchetto presto (TL and TR)

Choreography

Starting Position

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

First playing

The couple begin by facing each other, holding hands. They perform a riverenza, 2 Continenze (left then right), 8 Riprese (4 left, and 4 right), another 2 Continenze. The man will then let go of the lady's right hand, and they will both do a riverenza facing each other slightly.

RvL
CnL, CnR
RpL, RpL, RpL, RpL
RpR, RpR, RpR, RpR
CnL, CnR
RvL

Second playing

The couple begin this section facing up the hall. The lady proceeds forward on her own performing 2 Puntate grave, 2 Passi, and 1 Seguito beginning with the left foot. She then continues on with the same sequence, this time beginning with the right foot, and making a half turn to face her partner with the final seguito. The couple then perform a puntata forwards towards each other, then one backwards and finally a riverenza.

PtL, PtR (lady only)
PsL, PsR, SgL
PtR, PtL
PsR, PsL, SgR
PtL, PtR (together)
RvL

Third playing

The gentleman performs the same sequence of steps the lady just has, with the exception that he does not turn during the last seguito, however the lady does so that the couple are both facing up the hall, and taking customary hands. The couple then perform a puntata forward, one backwards and finally a riverenza.

PtL, PtR (gentleman only)
PsL, PsR, SgL
PtR, PtL
PsR, PsL, SgR
PtL, PtR (together)
RvL

Fourth playing

The lady walks in front of the gentleman in a semi-circle performing two passi and a seguito beginning with the left, and two passi and a seguito beginning with the right, making a turn with the last seguito so that she is facing up the hall on the man's left hand side. The man performs the same sequence, and the couple take customary hands. The couple then perform a puntata forward, one backwards and finally a riverenza.

PsL, PsR, SgL (lady only)
PsR, PsL, SgR
PsL, PsR, SgL (man only)
PsR, PsL, SgR
PtL, PtR (together)
RvL

Fifth playing

Taking right hands the couple perform two puntate to changes places. Peeling off down the hall to their original positions (a little distant the one from the other, but always to the pair) with 6 seguiti. Taking both hands the couple perform a puntata forward, one backwards and finally a riverenza.

PtL, PtR
SgL, SgR
SgL, SgR
SgL, SgR
PtL, PtR
RvL

Sciolta

The music to the sciolta is lighter, and performed in a triple metre.

The couple take left hands and perform two spezzati to change places. Peeling off back up the hall the couple perform 6 more spezzati back to the top of the hall , where the couple take both hands again. The couple perform 8 reprise left, 8 right, then 4 trabuchetti, alternating left and right. The man then releases the lady's left hand, and the couple performs a reverance to complete the dance.

SzL, SzR
SzL, SzR
SzL, SzR
SzL, SzR
RpL, RpL, RpL, RpL
RpL, RpL, RpL, RpL
RpR, RpR, RpR, RpR
RpR, RpR, RpR, RpR
TbL, TbR, TbL, TbR
RvL

Other reconstructions

• Reconstruction from Del's Dance Book

External Links

• Original transcription
• translation