Lauro
Advanced; Partners; Procession or double circle
Lorenzo de Medici choreographed or notated many dances. This dance, from the 15th Century, was reconstructed directly from Lorenzo's bad handwriting.
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Look for the word bassadanza at the top of the excerpt to begin the dance (hint - it looks like 'bafadanza').
The basse dance was very popular in the 15th C. Basse dance refers to a low dance, without jumps. Basse dances were comprised of Singles, doubles, branles (or continenza, in Italy), reprises (or ripresa, in Italy), and Reverences. Looking at the many basse dances, which all had their own music, makes me believe that the best skill for dancing the basse dance was a good memory! Check out the Electric Slide, and other line dances for contemporary examples of basse dances.
Basse dances were very logical. Composed chiefly of singles and doubles, you can always figure out which foot starts when. A step changes weight from foot to foot, a touch does not change weight. If you start a double with your left foot, the next movement must start with the right foot because a double has 3 weight changes (left, right, left are all weight changes, then the touch doesn't change weight, so the the right foot ends in the air). When in doubt, march the doubles and Singles so you know exactly which foot is in the air.
Notation:
Rev = Reverence c = continenza S = Single d = double r = represa V = Volta
Take hands with your partner and move forward in the line of dance (CCW around the room
Intro: Rev, cc
A: lt S, rt S, lt d, rt d, rev, lt r, rt r
B: lt S, S rt, d lt, r rt, cc
C: take rt hands with partner and SS d circling CW, take lt hands with partner and SS d circling CCW, lt r, rt, r
D: lt S, rt S, lt d, rt d, lt d, rt V, rt r, Rev
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