Description of the Program

For over twenty years the historical dance program has been a highly successful part of the Amherst Early Music Festival, itself the largest festival of its kind in the world. Students particularly enjoy the opportunity for performance, along with stimulating classes by dance historians and performers.

The theme of this year's Amherst Early Music Festival is "Music of Germany." The Historical Dance Program reflects that theme, with a focus on dance materials from Germany in the dance classes, a fully staged production of Johann Georg Conradi's Ariadne (1691), and a special performance of Baroque dance entitled "La Bavaroise." Participants are also entitled to attend many other events (including English country dancing, concert and lectures) in the evenings that are part of the Amherst Early Music Festival. All levels of dancers are welcome.

Dance Class Schedule

Saturday, July 5
2:00-5:00 pm (with breaks!). Baroque Gesture Class for dancers and singers (Minter). Dance Warmup (Murray). *Baroque Dance Technique Class/Rehearsal. (Mainz, Olsson)
6:30-8:00 pm. *Baroque Dance Technique Class/Rehearsal. (Mainz, Olsson)

Sunday, July 6
Early morning. Individual practice time.
10:30-11:00 am. Warmup (Murray)
11:00am-12:30 pm. *Baroque Dance Technique Class/Rehearsal. (Mainz, Olsson)
3:00-6:00 pm. *Rehearsal for Baroque Opera Project. (Production staff). Full read-through of Conradi’s Ariadne for all performers.
*These classes will serve as both audition and rehearsal for the dance roles for the Baroque Opera Project (Conradi’s Ariadne, July 11 performance) and for La Bavaroise (July 9 performance). All dancers wishing to perform in either production must attend these sessions.

Monday-Friday, July 7-11
8:15-8:45 am. Warm-Up for Musicians (Murray). A gentle full-body warm-up utilizing a variety of body-awareness and movement techniques including Pilates and yoga.

8:45-9:00 am. Warm-Up for Dancers (Murray). A warm-up with particular focus on the strength, flexibility and balance requirements of Baroque dance.

9:00-10:30 am. Baroque Dance Technique (Mainz, Olsson). Technique class including material from German sources such as Taubert, Pasch and others. Two levels (determined by staff after classes on July 5 and 6). Participants must also be enrolled in the Baroque Opera Project Dance Rehearsal (3:30-5:30).

11:00 am-12:15 pm. Survey of Historical Dance Music from Germany. (Bailey, music staff). This class is designed especially for dancers but is open to all. Using scores with recorded and live musical examples, this class will introduce the musical elements that characterize the major court and social dance forms used in Germany from the 15^th to 18^th century, including musical form, meter, tonal structure, phrase structure, characteristic rhythms, etc. Help will be provided for those that are new to reading musical scores.

1:30-3:00 pm. La Bavaroise (Mainz, Olsson). 18^th-century Contredanses in German sources, and rehearsal of dances for a special performance on July 9 at 8:30 pm [THIS IS A TIME CHANGE!].

3:30-5:30 pm. Baroque Opera and Dance Projects, Dance Rehearsal (Mainz, Olsson, Murray). Rehearsal for Baroque Opera (Conradi’s Ariadne, performance Friday evening, July 11), and for a special Baroque dance project, La Bavaroise (performance Wednesday, July 9, 8:30 pm). Evening rehearsals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (dress rehearsal) for Ariadne. Participants must also be enrolled in the first morning Baroque Dance Technique class.