Step Reconstructions

Riverenza grave:

This is done in four parts, in eight beats.  Begin with the left foot slightly in front and to the side of the right foot.  For the first part, stand straight in that position, looking at your partner.  For the second part, draw your left foot back until the point is even with the right heel, keeping the left heel on the floor and both knees straight.  At the same time, lean your head and body slightly forward.  For the third part, bend your knees a little and lower your body.   For the fourth part, return your left foot to even, and stand up straight.
So:  1) Stand straight facing your partner, with your left foot slightly forward
       2) Draw your left heel back, bending forward a little with knees and back straight
       3) Bend your knees a little
       4) Return to feet even, standing straight.

Continenza grave:

This is done in four beats.  Move your left foot slightly to the left.  Bring your right heel towards the left instep, lowering your body a little, then raise the left hip a little, flourishing as you do so.  We tend to do this by making a little circle with the ankles as we move from lowered to raised to feet even, but this is just one possible interpretation of the flourishing Caroso describes.

Puntata grave:

This is done in two beats, but it is easier to learn if you count it as four half-beats.  On the first beat (or first two half-beats), take a small step forward with the left foot.  For the first half of the second beat, pause briefly and rest in place.  In the second half of the second beat, bring the right foot even with the left, bend your knees a little to lower your body, then raise it again.

Passo grave:

This is a single step, done in one beat.  For a Passo left, a small step forward is taken with the left foot; the step is not closed.

Seguito ordinario:

The Seguito ordinario is a sort of double step, consisting of 3 Passi done in 4 beats.  In the first three beats, do 3 Passi - a Seguito ordinario on the left would be done as a Passo left, Passo right, and Passo left.  For the fourth beat, stand still with the left foot slightly forward of the right (where it should normally be after finishing a Passo).   The Passi are done on the toes, and the last beat is done with both feet flat on the ground.

Seguito semidoppio

The Seguito semidoppio consists of 2 Passi done in 2 beats, and 1 Seguito spezzato done in 2 beats, for a total of 4 beats.


Seguito spezzato

This step is done in 2 beats.  For a spezzato with the left foot, on the first beat, take a small step forward with the left foot, keeping the foot flat on the ground.   In the beginning of the second beat, take a step on the toe of the right foot, bringing the toe near the left heel, and raising the left heel as the right toe touches the ground.  In the end of the second beat, lower the left heel.

Seguito scorso

This step is done in 8 half-beats, and consists of 8 Passi presti.  At the beginning of the step, raise onto your toes, in each beat take one quick little half-step on your toes, stepping gently and keeping your body straight.

Doppio grave

The Doppio grave is another sort of double-step, similar to the Seguito ordinario.  To do a Doppio with the left foot, 3 Passi are done - one left, one right, and one left; then instead of doing a fourth Passo on the right, the right foot is brought even with the left.  As the right foot is brought even, bend your knees a little, then raise and lower your heels.

Ripresa grave

The Ripresa is done in one beat, moving side-to-side.  For a Ripresa to the left, take a small step to the left, raising onto your toes.  Bring your right foot even with the left, then lower your heels to the ground.

Trabuchetto grave

The Trabuchetto grave is done in 1 beat.  For a Trabuchetto on the left foot, hop onto the left foot, moving a very small distance to the left and landing on your toes.  As the left foot touches the ground, raise the right foot a little bit, moving it towards the left and keeping the right leg extended.

Scambiata

To do a Scambiata to the left, start with your feet even.  Take a small step forward and slightly to the left with the left foot, keeping the foot flat on the ground.  Cross your right foot behind the left, so that the toe of the right foot is just outside the heel of the left.  Then raise the left foot and take a small step to bring it even with the right, uncrossing your feet and bending your knees a little.  End the step with a jump, landing with your feet even.

Trango

The Trango is done in 1 beat.   To do a Trango with the left foot, take a small step forward and to the left with the left foot, keeping the foot flat on the ground.   At the end of the step, bend your knees a little.  Raise your right heel, then quickly raise your right foot and left heel (so you are standing, momentarily, on your left toes), then lower both feet again so they are flat on the ground.
Note that Caroso also describes a Seguito trangato, which is a completely different step done in 4 beats.  In describing the dances, he also refers to a Passo trangato.  Since this step usually appears to take 1 beat, and there is no reference to a Passo trangato that I have found in the step instructions, I believe that the Passo trangato and the Trango are the same step.

Cadenza

The cadenza is simply a leap and foot-change.  Starting with the left foot forward, leap into the air and land with the right foot forward.