Nonsuch summer school: ‘Come Dancing from Vikings to Victorians´
Peterborough High School is within walking distance of Peterborough´s thriving city centre, which boasts a magnificent 12th Century Cathedral, the final resting place of King Henry VIII´s first wife, Katherine of Aragon. There are also a number of historic houses in the surrounding area. A direct national train serves Peterborough from LONDON Kings Cross, CAMBRIDGE and EDINBURGH.
Nonsuch summer school: ‘Come Dancing from Vikings to Victorians´
Darren Royston
+44 (0)7758581408
The course provides an overview of the development of social dance through history: the changing styles influenced by where they were danced, when they were danced and by whom.
Tuition is tailored to all abilities, experience and interests; the course is suitable for beginners in dance through to those with professional experience.
Each day will begin with a general movement class to wake-up the body and give a good grasp of the basics of dance: rhythm and musicality, spatial awareness, leading and following with a partner.
Dance Instruction will also include the consideration of fashion and the social etiquette of the time. Evenings will include themed events: Medieval Saga Gathering, Victorian Ball and 1920´s Prohibition Party.
Part 1 - Brawls at the Courts of Europe - 12th -17th Century
Saturday 29th July - Thursday 3rd August - 30 hours of tuition
The course begins with an introduction to medieval circle dances (called branles or brawls), which ensures that everyone starts off on the same foot (quite literally!).
A special focus this year will be the dance forms recounted in the Icelandic & Norse sagas (11th - 14th Century), based on research of leading Icelandic dance historian and folklorist Sigriður Valgeirsdottir. Reconstructions of these Viki-Vaki (Song Dance) were presented recently at the National Theatre in Reykjavik.
Following a study of the development of the Italian Renaissance, the course will explore the Tudors & Stuarts in England. Part One concludes at the 17th Century baroque court of the French Sun King, Louis XIV.
Part 2 - Strictly Ballroom from Restoration to Ragtime
Friday 4th August - Sunday 6th August - 18 hours of tuition
Beginning with the presentation of dances of the 17th & 18th Century (including the Ballroom Minuet), this course will provide an introduction to the changes in ballroom style and etiquette moving through the Regency period of Jane Austen, to the 19th Century dances of Victorian England.
The rhythm of Ragtime will bring the course to a fun finale of flappers dancing the On-Step and Charleston.
