For the last dance-class of the year, we dressed in our finest and had a small ball, choosing dances in turn from the Canterbury Faire ball list, or from amongst other favourite dances.
The gentlemen were Master William de Cameron, Don Gregory Tortouse de Sloleye and Lord Ludwig von Regensburg; the ladies, Mistress Katherina Weyssin, Lady Caterine de Vantier, Lady Anna de Wilde and Lady Katherine of Glastonbury.
We began, as is customary, with Ballo del Fiore.
Then, for the first set:
- Amoroso, requested by Don Gregory Tortouse de Sloleye
- Cesarina, requested by Don William de Cameron
- Gracca Amorosa, requested by Lady Katherine of Glastonbury
- a Galliard, requested by Lord Ludwig von Regensburg, and danced to La Traditore
- Alenchon, requested by Lady Anna de Wilde
- the Branles d'Ecosses, requested by Lady Caterine de Vantier, and
- Amoroso, requested by Mistress Katherina Weyssin
After a short break, the second set:
- Contentezza d'Amore, requested by Don Gregory
- Spagnoletta, requested by Don William; whereupon Don William and Mistress Katherina danced the Spagnoletta Nuova in modo di Madriglia, while Lady Anna, Lady Caterine and Lady Katherine danced Spagnoletta Nuova for three.
- Petit Vriens, requested by Lady Katherine
- Lauro, requested by Lord Ludwig
- the Black Almain, requested by Lady Anna
- Ly Bens Distonys, requested by Lady Caterine, and
- Pungente Dardo, requested by Mistress Katherina
Finally, after another short break, we danced:
- Amoroso
- the Lorrayne Almain, and
- La Caccia d'Amore, the chasing game (including the virtuosic spectacle of Don William de Cameron dancing with one lady while Master William de Cameron danced with another).
After which we retired to finish the evening with strawberries and cream.
Once again, I found that I like this format for balls with 6-30 people: everyone gets to choose at least one dance, so there's no pressure to choose dances that you think others will like. In practice, when each person chooses the dance they would most like to perform, you tend to get a ball-list that is pleasantly varied, and well-suited to the skills and interests of those present. Last night no-one danced everything, but most people danced most things, and no-one sat out for a long time. I found it very satisfying, as I believe did the other dancers.
Note: regular Thursday Night dance classes will resume on the 16th of February, 2012.