Basse Dances
The Basse Dance flourished in Burgundy during the time of Charles the Bold and is, like so much other music and dance from that time and place, one of the most delightful of the achievements made by our forefathers. The basse dance is a graceful dance in which the dancers move slowly forward and back according to the rule of the dance and the measure of the music making slow and graceful progress across the floor. Note that the basse dance is not called ``basse'' or ``base'' because it was danced by base persons, but rather because it danced low to the ground, unlike a leaping dance such as the salterello or galliard. Basse Dances were danced by noble both high and low of the Burgundian Court.
There is also a bassadanza which is a similar dance danced by the Italians of the same time. The chief difference between the two dances is in the variety of steps and ornamentation of figures added by the Italians. Thus, where the Burgundians would glide in a stately progress across the floor, the Italians would move in more elaborate steps and figures.
Check these sources for more information:
A monograph by Russell Almond
