Ballo del Fiore for two (Il Ballarino)

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The Ballo del Fiore for two from Il Ballarino was written by Fabritio Caroso, and was dedicated to a noble woman from Venice, Lady Laura Moro Contarini. Caroso classes it as a sonata.

Steps Used

Choreography

The dance begins with one man standing in the centre of the hall, holding a flower in his right hand. It is usual for there to be an agreed position for those other who wish to join this dance, for instance standing to the left hand side, or seated around the dance floor.

Introduction

The dancer does a riverenza, followed by two seguiti, turning over his left shoulder. Note that the steps begin with the right foot, rather than the customary left. This should last for one repetition of the music.

RvR
SgR, SgL (turning in a circle)

First Sequence

The dancer does 4 seguiti towards the person he wishes to dance with. The dancer then performs two continze and a riverenza, the chosen partner rising and taking customary hands at the end of the riverenza. This should last for two repetitions of the music.

SgR, SgL
SgR, SgL
CnR, CnL
RvR

Second Sequence

The couple now perform two seguiti and two scorsi to find a place on the dance floor, and turning to face each other at the end of the last scorso. The couple now perform two continze and a riverenza, still holding customary hands, their arms in a crescent moon shape. This sequence should last for two repetitions of the music.

SgR, SgL
ScR, ScL
CnR, CnL
RvR

Third Sequence

Dropping hands the couple performs two seguiti turning over the left shoulder and then two seguiti past each other in a straight line, the man to the top of the hall, the woman to the bottom, both turning to face each other at the very end. The couple now perform two continze and a riverenza. This sequence should last for two repetitions of the music.

SgR, SgL
SgR, SgL
CnR, CnL
RvR

Fourth Sequence

The couple now approach each other zigzagging right, left, right, left with four seguiti. Now standing face to face they perform two continenze and a riverenza. During the riverenza the dancer holding the flower kisses it and passes it on to his partner. This sequence should last for two repetitions of the music.

SgR, SgL
SgR, SgL
CnR, CnL
RvR

Repeats

The person holding the flower continues the dance from Sequence One. Despite the fact that Caroso explicitly states that the person who has handed on the flower returns to his seat, it is a common variation for both dancers to continue dancing, doubling the number of dancers with each repetition. This is often aided by dancing with a bunch of flowers rather than just one, and handing on half the bunch each time.

Alternative Choreography

Music

The music is played once through for the introduction, and then eight times through for each cycle.

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