A Trivial History of Dance of the Renaissance Era Quiz

Answer: English country dance

Queen Elizabeth I loved to dance. She preferred to move to the rollicking country dances. Her favorite dance was the galliard. She didn't enjoy the stifling court dances of the day.

Answer: Stomping

The Canario was a style of folk dance that originated in the Canary Islands of Spain in the sixteenth century. The style found its way into many late Italian Renaissance dances. This style included brushing your foot loudly to the beat by either stomping or jumping. The dance is also known as Tajaraste.

Answer: to declare war on a Royal court

Royal court dances were popular in Italy and northern Europe in the fifteenth century. This was a form of entertainment for noble courts. These dances were used for civil political diplomacy and to exchange dance styles. They were definitely not used to declare war or display hostilities.

These courtly dances were vital part of royal courts during Renaissance period. These dances were used to display the power, wealth, and social status of the participants. This was a form of dance which emphasized the refinement and grace of the dancers. The court dances influenced ballet, ballroom and folk dancing.

Answer: As any of these

A Moresca (a name meaning Moorish) is a dance performed in Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. This dance was a simulation of medieval battles in Spain between the Moors and the Christians, focusing either on an individual or on a combatant pair. The Moresca can be seen in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 production of "Romeo and Juliet".

The Moresca was also a ballet or pantomimic dance used in opera in the 17th century. A Moresca was used in the 1607 "Monteverdi's Orfeo" and the 1735 "Entrée de' Mori" operas.

Answer: Most of them traced out patterns visible from above

In the fifteenth century, the early Burgundians would hold dances that people could watch from the galleries above. One dance, called 'Danse de Cleves', traces out patterns of hearts and flowers. Most patterns were much simpler and more formulaic, as in everybody forwards, everybody back, etc.

Answer: A reverence

The reverence was a show of respect that you would show to your partner as well as the representative of the crown. It was essentially what the modern curtsy is today, only much more elaborate.

Answer: A dance expert

French cleric Jehan Tabourot was born in Dijon, France in 1520. He wrote under the pen name Thoinot Arbeau. Under the pen name Thoinot Arbeau, he became a theoretician and historian of dance. He is famous for the 1588 dance instruction book titled "Orchésographie".

Answer: The galliard

The Volta was a movement found in couples dance during the Renaissance period. The Volta consisted of a turn and lift in a closed position. The Volta is included in the sixteenth century European court dance the Galliard. The Galliard was a five-step dance which was popular in France, Spain, and England. Queen Elizabeth I of England was a fan of dancing the Galliard.

Answer: A step similar to a goose step

The allemande was a Baroque dance originating in the sixteenth century. Translated from French, the word "allemande" means German.

The allemande dance involved a couple walking between two rows formed by the other members of their group. The couple would take three steps then pause. The way the man held the lady's arm evolved into the movement called an allemande in contra dances and square dances.

Answer: Italy

Tarantella is a lively folk dance originating in the southern Italian regions of Calabria, Campania and Puglia in the 15th century. The dance's name was based on Taranto, Italy. The dance is characterized by a fast upbeat tempo accompanied by tambourines.