Il Balarino: The Art Of Renaissance Dance

Julia Sutton, Ph.D, a noted dance historian and musicologist, is the writer and narrator for this video textbook on the art of Renaissance dance. "Il Balarino," meaning "The Dance Master," is a reconstruction of the more popular dance steps and a few of the dances from the Renaissance period as described in the dance manuals by the 16th century dance masters Fabritio Caroso and Cesare Negri. After a brief introduction concerning social dancing during the Renaissance--focusing particularly on Italy--a male and female dance demonstrate 19 common steps and sequences from the period. This is followed by dances featuring a couple and a group, with voiceover narration by Sutton. In "La Caccia d'Amore," for instance, Sutton touches on the lusty nature of 16th-century social dances, while explaining the concept of the "chase," performed in complicated routines by the dancers. Il Ballarino is a good program, yet it's highly focused subject matter, together with its scholarly presentation, make it unsuitable for public library collections. It is recommended, however, for universities with strong dance history sections. (See CHARLES WEIDMAN; ON HIS OWN for availability.)