Programme
Dancing in the Time of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino
Beginner – Beginner/Intermediate Level
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In the heart of the Renaissance, dance was far more than a mere pastime: it was a refined art and an essential skill to excel in courtly circles. At the court of Urbino, Guglielmo Hebreo da Pesaro, a disciple of Domenico da Piacenza, was a renowned master, choreographer, and theorist, transforming movement into visual poetry.
This course invites you to discover the choreographies described in the treatises of the great 15th-century masters, with insights into 16th-century techniques as well. Together, we will revive the graceful movements and solemn postures of this magnificent era. With a rigorous historical and philological approach, we will explore how these ancient dance techniques continue to resonate in our modern gestures and bodies, creating a bridge between past and present.
But dance is more than movement: it is a language that opens doors to inner worlds, emotional landscapes, and profound reflections. Through the study of these choreographies, we will step into the shoes of Renaissance men and women, reliving the splendor of a time that saw the genius of artists like Piero della Francesca and Raphael flourish in the same city that welcomed Guglielmo Hebreo.
Among the dances we will reconstruct are Colonnese, Cupido, Belfiore, and Belreguardo. Participants will also have the chance to request specific dances of their choice. Each session will be a journey through time, turning the past into a living inspiration for today. This course is open to beginners and those with some experience, whether in Renaissance dance or other movement techniques. No matter your level, what matters most is your willingness to be swept away by the grace and beauty of the Renaissance.
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There will be a return of the work in the form of an optional show lesson, therefore students are advised to bring a fifteenth-century costume. If you don't have one, you can contact the teacher.
Bio
A classically trained dancer, choreographer and teacher, she approached the study of ancient dance in Urbino in 1992, under the guidance of B. Sparti, V. Daniels and D.C. Colonna. She is involved in ethnic and contemporary dance, and in 2002 she graduated as a dance-educator© Laban method/community dance (Mousiké, Bologna). He studied Palaeography and Musical Philology at the University of Cremona.
From Europe to Asia and the Americas, she has performed with La Petite Bande by S. Kujiken, Le Concert des Nations by J. Savall, Doulce Mémoire, Dowland Consort by J. Lindberg, Elyma by G. Garrido, La Follia by G. Fabiano, Micrologus, Musica Fiorita by D. Dolci, La Risonanza by F. Bonizzoni, Les Jardins de Courtoisie, Resonanze by C. Chiarappa, Norsk Barokkorkester G. von deer Gotz- R. Lislevand, Orchestra Barocca Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado-R. Balconi, La Follia by G. Fabiano, I Solisti Veneti.
For director Susanna Nicchiarelli, she choreographed the film Chiara dedicated to the life of the saint from Assisi (production Vivo Film-Rai Cinema and Tarantula, 2023) and danced in Romeo and Jiuliet by Carlo Carlei (Indiana Production 2013).
He collaborated with Il Leoncello di A. Pontremoli and Il Ballarino dancing in several productions and in particular in the French-language show inspired by the life of Leonardo da Vinci "L'Harmonie du Monde".
She has conducted research on Manuscript 9085 "Les Basses danses de Marguerite d'Autriche" conducting workshops and lecture-conferences (Bourg-en Bresse 2004; Pesaro, 2012; Dolmetsch School Congress, London 2013).
She has created the choreographies for the following operas by Claudio Monteverdi: Il Ballo delle Ingrate, L'Orfeo, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda staged several times in Milan, Genoa, Mantua, Brescia and Trento.
He danced with C. Turocy's New York Dance Company in "The Pleasure of the Dance" and in "The Temple of Glory" at the Jarvis Theater in Napa, California.
She has presented her studies in the United States for the Society of Dance History Scholars, at the Vaganova Academy (St. Petersburg Russia), at the Université de Paris-Sorbonne (France), in Germany, VII International Historical Dance Symposium in Burg Rothenfels am Main, at the Historical Dance Society in London, at the University of Bologna and at the Teatro San Carlo-Conservatorio Napoli.
She has conducted lessons for adults and children in numerous prestigious institutions in Italy (Conservatorio di Adria, Rovigo, Pesaro, Como, Brescia, Parma, Scuola Civica Milano) and abroad (CSI Lugano, Switzerland; Rigve International Summer Course, Norway; Historical Dance Society, UK; Valtice, Czech Republic; Belgium, Slovenia, Paraguay, Indonesia, ).