Collegium 2007

[storytimewithjoe]

 

Collegium Weekend

 

I overdid it.  I overextended myself… again.  I’m not complaining.  It is my own fault. 

 

Going into this Collegium, I had originally planned on teaching a class – maybe even two.  Yet, over the evolution of time, I found myself with another case of helium-hand teaching three classes.  Add on a fly-in guest from Calontir.  Add on playing host to some friends from Calafia.  Add on coordinating dinner plans with another friend coming up from Encinidas.  Add on trying to coordinate with my hubby who was tied up with other things. 

 

Calgon!!!!!!!!  Take me away!!!!!!!

 

Collegium is such a fun and fascinating collage of activity.  In a way, I envy the newbie who walks in to find so many interesting things right there at his or her fingertips.  Archery, fighting, hands-on classes, cooking, embroidery, calligraphy & illumination, dance, craftsy stuff, theory classes, lecture classes, etc., etc.  It can be very intimidating, overwhelming, and just in general – wonderful!  I had the pleasure of taking a couple of classes – a luxury that I don’t usually have.  Regretfully, I had to skip the scriptorium this go around.  That part sucks, as I really like to support the C&I production in the kingdom.  But something had to give, and this time around, that was it. 

 

One of the highlights of my weekend involved a dance-geek moment where I had an accidental breakthrough.  This particular class focused in on the Gresley dances.  To give a bit of background, the Gresley collection is an assembly of dances only recently discovered in the late 80’s.  The first publication of the Gresley dances came around in 1996.  And what exactly ARE the Grelsey dances?  They are a collection of dances that most likely date to approximately 1500 England, which makes them the single oldest collection of actual “English” dances that we have.  May not sound like much, but for us dance geeks, it is incredible to think that we could very well be dancing dances that Henry VII danced.  Anyway, while teaching one particular dance, one of my students commented in a rather joking manner how the dance seemed rather German to him.  We all laughed.  What he was actually referring to was the tempo of the dance, and the rather militant beat, made all the more prominent by the loud stomping of his boots.  Yet, when the class was over, that comment stuck in my brain.  “Wait a minute,” I though.  “That dance is kinda like… kinda like… Kinda like an Almain!”  Bearing some very similar patterns to other known dances of the Inns of Court (dances from Henry VIII’s time), my student had inadvertently stumbled on to something.  It really DID resemble German dances!  Howy CWAP!  I’m on to something!  I see the potential for an article here!  Now to just find the time…

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves in 1540. It is possible that German dances were taught in the court in her honour.

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

While possible, it is doubtful. By that point, the whole "queen du jour" thang was getting to be quite a joke. People weren't thrilled by the idea of a German queen in the first place. Add on that the marriage really did not last long enough for it to even have what would be considered a significant impact on the culture.

The particular dance in question is really most likely from Henry VII if not earlier - possibly as old as about 1470, which I find utterly fascinating.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Henry's subjects did not know they were getting another Queen du jour. There was some effort made to welcome Anne, though her marriage did only last 6 months.

I find it fascinating that the dance might date from 1470. It's one I'd like to learn.

[aeddie.livejournal.com]

Could it be part of the northward migration of things in the 15th century that you touched on briefly in your costuming class?

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Nope. the dance class came first. :-)

[aeddie.livejournal.com]

That's what I get for being a smartass. When I do make a serious comment you throw it right back.

I'd beat you but I think you'd like it. :-)

[deviantfix.livejournal.com]

The class was a blast. Now if I could only remember 1/4 of it all will be good. I want to learn more dances.... MORE!!!!!

YAY GERMAN! Did you like my stomping around to the German-esque parts? ;-)

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Yeppers!!!! Inspiration!

I understand you taught Men's Italian Garb

[the-celestia.livejournal.com]

Is it possible to get (I'll pay costs and postage) your handout or notes from this, please? I am unable to attend events just now (parent recovering from heart surgery) but would very much have liked to have taken your class on this.

Celestia

Re: I understand you taught Men's Italian Garb

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

I can, but I'm afraid my handouts won't help much without the lecture part to back it up. I do plan on teaching again at collegiums to come, so if you are able to attend again, the opportunity will certainly make itself available.

Re: I understand you taught Men's Italian Garb

[lady-caetlyn.livejournal.com]

Please let us know when you do teach it again. I had to take my child home early and miss the class, but I do look forward to taking it.

Re: I understand you taught Men's Italian Garb

[the-celestia.livejournal.com]

I'd love to take the class, really, but I suspect you won't be offering it again before AE 12th Night...which is the event the garb would be made for. I'm specifically looking for whatever your source material was for the red/gold/blue outfit you have on in one of your LJ icons, if that helps. At this time I cannot attend events, I must be home to take care of my father who is four weeks post open heart surgery and has had another complication just this week...whatever you have in the way of handout would be most appreciated, or even just a name of a portrait if that was your inspiration for the garment mentioned above...I've at least three shelf-feet of Italian painting art books.

But if you prefer not, I'll understand.

t_C

Re: I understand you taught Men's Italian Garb

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Well in that case, I'd be more than happy to oblige. Where can I send a copy?

Whitch Ones Seemed German?

[tlh-in-tlh.livejournal.com]

We've learned Ly Bens Distonys(sp?) (not sure whose reconstruction), and we're in the process of learning Eglamore(sp?) (again, not sure whose reconstruction; may be Indywind/Eoin/Jen's). I don't know that I know any German dances, although I do know that Ly Bens does bear a resemblance to Black Alman in particular. (In fact, we point out the similarities in our dance classes, since we've usually taught 1 or 2 Almans first.)

Re: Whitch Ones Seemed German?

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Ding! Ding! Ding! You've hit the nail on the head.