Ballo del Fiore (Il Ballarino)
The Ballo del Fiore (Dance of the Flower) is a dance by Fabritio Caroso. There are two choreographies from his book Il Ballarino, one for two people the other for three. He also gave a later choreography in Nobilta di Dame.
Both two and three person dances begin with one person in the centre holding a flower. When the dance reaches it final riverenza the flower is transferred to one of the other dances, who may repeat the dance. For the two person dance it has become a popular variation in the SCA to start with a bunch of flowers, passing half the bunch over in the end, and having both dancers repeat the dance. In this way many more people may take part in a given number of repetitions of the dance.
Dedicatory Poem
This dance comes with a poem dedicated to Lady Laura Moro Contarini.
Original Poem
Giua liet a l'Aurore
Per l'Oriente i suoi destrier sprònando;
Oue di gemme, & oro
Il bel paese abonda,
Et di quanto il Mar bagna, e'l Sol circonda:
Qual balezza seconda
Non fia al mio albòr (dicea) ch'inostra, e indora
D'Ogni ricci tesoro
Il Ciel, l'aria, la terra, e l'onda? Quand
Giove rispose irato: In terra ha stanza
Donna, che tua beltà di beltà avanza.
