Of the Ballarino, by Fabritio Caroso

Of the little Speeches,
First treatise


In the which are taught the rules of learning the beautiful acts, the graceful movements, and the honored education, which are expected thus from the men, as from the women, in the art of the Dance.

Which, and how many are the names of all the acts, and movements, which happen in each sort of dance.

It is seemly that I discourse of the art of the dance, or of the Dances, thus in use in Italy, as of those of France and Spain, and withal of the education, which in these happen, of which no other one until now has discoursed; virtue as much laudable and necessary, and requiring and able to render adorned each Prince and Princess, each Lord and Lady, each Knight and Dame,  each Gentleman and Gentlewoman, and each other well born and educated man and woman, and young men and maidens, it seems to me convenient, first which I come to the narration of the Rules, the demonstrating the variety of names, which I am accustomed to attribute to each one of the acts, and movements, which are able to happen in all the sorts of Dances, and of the Dance in gagliarde, that from each one in the progress of my discourse I am able most easily to be understood.  Know therefore,  that:

Three are the sorts of the Riverenze, that is;

Riverenza grave,
Riverenza minima,
Riverenza semiminima in Balzetto done in the Cascarde

2 the sort of the Continenze;

Continenza grave,
Continenza ordinaria, or minima.
 

 2 those of the Puntate;
Puntata grave,
Puntata minima.
 

 4 the types of the Passi;
Passi grave in the Balletti,
Passi presti in the Cascarde,
Passi larghi established in Gagliarda,
Passetti in gagliarda.
 

8 are the Seguiti;
Seguito grave finto in the Tordiglione,
Seguito ordinario,
Seguito semidoppio,
Seguito trangato,
Seguito finto,
Seguito spezzato, as in the Cascarde,
Seguito scorso,
Seguito battuto in the Canario,
Seguito spezzato schisciato in the Canario.


2 the Doppii;
Doppio grave,
Doppio minimo.


2 the Riprese;

Ripresa grave,
Ripresa minima.


2 the Trabuchetti;
Trabuchetto grave,
Trabuchetto minimo.


4 the Fioretti;
Fioretto ordinario,
Fioretto fiancheggiato,
Fioretto a pie pari per fianco (with  feet even flanking),
Fioretto battuto in the Canario.


3 the sort of the Cinque passi (5 steps);
Cinque passi in the gagliarda,
Cinque passi soprapiede in the gagliarda,
Cinque passi intrecciati in the gagliarda.


3 the sorts of the Salti (jumps);
Salto tondo in aria,
Salto riverso,
Salto del fiocco.

5 the Capriole;
Capriola in 3,
Capriola in 4,
Capriola in 5,
Capriola spezzata in aria (broken in the air),
Capriola intrecciata.


16 other movements with names all different;
Cambio, or scambiata,
Trango,
Zoppetto,
Molinello,
Sottopiede,
Trito minuto,
Balzetto a piedi pari,
Groppo,
Pirlotto in terra, or zurlo,
Tremolante,
Costatetto,
Campanella,
Recacciata,
Punta, e calcagno,
Battuta di piede,
Schisciata al canario,
Cadenza alla gagliarda.

Of which names all we discuss in their places, and the which owe to be learned, and impressed in the memory; wherefore with most facility each one in their pleasure, now this, and now that other act, and movement naming, and all at one time doing, all able and of the quality of the name, and of the true effect of this will make one an excellent possessor.


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