Of the Seguiti, and first of the Seguito grave finto  (feigned) as the Tordiglione.

This seguito grave finto (feigned) is done in 3 Passi, and in the time of 3 ordinary beats; doing one Passo to each beat; in this manner; Finding the person in perspective, in the first beat you have to advance the left foot, and to push it half a handspan forward, and as much distant from the right, and first which it is diminished, one has to push it with the point gracefully towards the left: then returning it where it was had, one has to diminish it and to raise at the same time the right; and this has to be done in the finishing of the first beat; then in the start of the second beat, diminish the right foot and advance the left; and in the third, diminish the left, and advance the right; doing these effects now with withdrawing back, and now with pushing gracefully forward some with the body: Then following these Seguiti; in the following beat, one will have, passing forward with the right foot, which is found advanced, to push it enough forward and distant from the left, as they did from the beginning with the left foot: and with this rule will follow to do as many Seguiti as would be necessary in the dance.  And these Seguiti have acquired the name of feigned, because feigning to walk forward, if in resting for that time in the same place whether as they were found when it was started.


Of the Seguito Ordinario.

The Seguito ordinario is done similarly in 3 Passi, and in 4 ordinary beats; and true, which at the final beat one stands all that space of time with the body settled: and it is done in this manner; It is started in the first beat with the left foot, pushing it forward on the point of the foot as much that the heel arrives at the point of the right, and about two inches distant from that; then advancing the right foot in the second beat, it is done similarly of pushing it forward on the point of the foot, and as much distant from the left as was done with the left: then in the third beat the left is pushed forward in the same manner; except resting with both feet level on the ground, right as is owed when a person is found standing in the perspective of doing the Riverenza: and in this manner one has to try, as it was said, in the space of the fourth beat.  Then in the starting of the fifth beat, it follows anew, pushing the right foot forward after the manner stated in the left: be careful that with each Seguito one has with the body to wantonize oneself some.

Reconstruction of the Seguito ordinario


Of the Seguito Semidoppio.

This Seguito is done in the space of four ordinary beats, starting it with the left foot: and in the first two beats doing two Passi, as will be said in the rule of the Passi presti in the Cascarde, and in the other two beats one Seguito spezzato, as above, starting it similarly with the left foot; and accompanying each Passo and seguito with that grace and beauty which like effects require.

Reconstruction of the Seguito semidoppio

Of the Seguito trangato.

The Seguito trangato is done in four beats, in this manner; At the first beat is done one step with the left foot:  in the second another step with the right: in the third, moreover another step, bending all at one time both the knees:  and in the fourth beat is done a Zoppetto with the left foot, raising the right gracefully back: then starting with the right foot, the stated step follows: the which from the effect of swallowing it in doing it, has received the name of Seguiti trangati (swallowed).


Of the Seguito finto (feigned).

This step is done in four beats, as the Seguito ordinario, in this manner; Finding the body with feet even, in the first beat the left foot is moved, pushing it as much back such that the point of this overtakes to the end of the heel of the right, and pausing on the ground only the point of this foot; then in the second beat, one raises the right foot, and pushes it even to the left also on the point of the feet: and in the third beat, raise the left foot and push it as much forward such that the heel overtakes the point of the right foot, keeping it level: and so it is done to rest in the time of the fourth beat: then following the other Seguiti by course, they have the same rule.  And these Seguiti are called feigned, wherefore they are feigning to walk forward or back, as it goes back or forward.


Of  the Seguito spezzato (broken).

This Seguito spezzato is done in two ordinary beats, in this manner; first (finding the body with feet even) in the first beat it is done to push the left foot half a palm’s width forward, and two inches distant from the right, keeping it well flat on the ground; then in the beginning of the second beat, move the right foot, raising first the heel, and with the point of this approach the heel of the left foot; and in the same time which you put the point of the right foot on the ground, raise both the heels and the body together some; then in the end of the beat lower the left heel together with the body.  Then in the start of the third beat, pass forward with the right in the same manner which was done with the left: and this Seguito is named spezzato, wherefore in the time in which a Seguito ordinario is done, breaking it, is done two of the above named.

Reconstruction of the Seguito spezzato


Of the Seguito scorso (running).

These Seguiti scorsi are done in 8 half beats, and in 8 Passi presti minuti, in this manner: Finding the body straight, start to raise either the left foot, or the right, whichever is convenient in the Balli; and do a half passo forward on the points of the feet gracefully, so that the Lady would not let him, in moving herself, hear the rumor of her slippers, and bearing the body straight, with some wantonizing; that is, which the left or right foot, whichever you move first, would not pass the point of that foot to the middle of the other; carrying it not two fingers distant the one from the other: and at each beat doing 2 passetti presti in the manner stated: and thus following until the number of 8; the which will be done in 4 ordinary beats.  Be careful each one to move the feet gracefully, and above all, which the Lady not let him hear the rumor of her slippers in their pausing on the earth, and of carrying the body straight, wantonizing it some.

Reconstruction of the Seguito scorso


Of the Seguito battuto (beat) in the Canario

Each Seguito battuto is done in one ordinary beat, in this manner, that is; First moving the left foot, raising it with the point, dash it some forward with the heel; then suddenly putting the point of the said foot on the ground, dash it in the same place back, having raised the heel of that: lastly push it forward until the middle of the right foot, keeping it level on the ground, and in putting it on the ground, beating it as right to is done when (si calzano le scarpe – the shoes are put on a slope?); then follow to do the named Seguiti with the right foot, doing the same which was done with the left.  And in these Seguiti, and in each other action or movement in the dance of Canario, the person has to always beat the feet, so that it is understood by the bystanders that the beats are done with measure, and with art.  Of which beating of feet, these steps have taken the name of Battuti.


Of the Seguito spezzato schisciato (crushed) in the Canario.

These seguiti are done in 2 ordinary beats in this manner:  Finding the person with feet even, move the left foot and without moving the point from the ground, but crushing it, or as we will say, dragging it on the ground, push it as much forward that the heel will come even almost to the end of  the point of the right, and about 1-2 inches distant from that; then moving the right foot, push it almost until the middle of the left foot, not with all the foot o the ground, as the left, but raising the heel only with the forward part, or palm of which, has to be crushed; then following to crush another time the left, push it the second time some more forward of the right: and moving the right foot the second time, then push it almost to the end of the left, as in the beginning was done with the left almost to the end of the right; and in this manner will have to follow the named Seguiti doing as many as will be needed; and wantonizing some the body, hold the legs well straight.  Be careful that  in the start of the second step, raise and diminish some with the body, and with grace.  And these Seguiti are named crushed, because in doing it, you are always crushing, or dragging the feet.



Return to Index

Return to Step List

Previous Page

Next Page