Talk:Villanella

He should now be facing up the hall, alongside the lady, and holding her right hand with his left.

I'm not sure I've seen anyone reconstruct this dance this way, other than Mistress Eleanor. I'd be interested to see the "archaeology" of this reconstruction. Every other reconstruction I've seen, the couple are facing each other. I can't see anything in the original of the text that supports this. This style of hand-hold is a fairly important point of discussion amongst various people. 202.129.81.102 15:03, 14 Jun 2006 (EST)

Here is my archaeology, such as it is. I taught this dance from the version in Del's Dance Book one night (I liked the "Contentezza lite" nature of the dance) and the instructions there said that at this point the couple should be holding both hands. When reconstructing the dance for Cunnan I went to the online translation. Here is the translation for the third figure:

The man alone has to do 2 Passi gravi and 1 Seguito ordinario, starting it with the left foot: the same he will do by opposite: then passing forward to the lady, he has to be put to her right hand, taking the right hand, and doing together the Continenza, as of above, to the left, and 2 Riprese to the right, and the Riverenza with the left.

The italicised section I took to mean he has now moved in front of the lady and to her right hand side, he then takes her right hand.

Just a quick question, by Mistress Eleanor, do you mean Adina Hamilton, on whose Del's reconstruction was based? If so I am having trouble reconciling what you have said with what is said in Del's dance book. Conrad Leviston 23:08, 21 Jun 2006 (EST)