História da Dança na Idade Média

Summary

Robson Porto guides viewers through the Middle Ages, exploring the dance history from 476 AD to 1453 AD. Amidst war and invasion, civil authority gave way to ecclesiastical, leading to a reinterpretation of Greco-Roman legacy through Christian lens. Dance was both condemned and tolerated, with practices like 'Dancing Mania' emerging as a response to epidemics. The script also covers the evolution of dance from folk to courtly, including 'The Best Dance' and the influence of 'Pastorale' shows. It highlights how dance transformed from rustic celebrations to refined court performances, reflecting societal changes and the Church's role in shaping cultural expressions.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ The Middle Ages spanned from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
• 🏰 During this period, constant wars and invasions led to the rise of ecclesiastical authority over civil authority, influencing cultural and artistic expressions.
• 🎭 Roman theaters were closed, and performing arts adapted to Christian norms, with dance being both condemned and tolerated by the Church.
• 💃 Dance was integrated into Christian ceremonies, with rural and pagan traditions being adapted to take on a mystical character.
• 🕺 The 'Dance Mania' phenomenon, also known as dancing plague, occurred between the 11th and 12th centuries, where people danced frenetically to relieve physical pain and disease.
• 🖼️ The dancing plague inspired artists like Hans Baldung Grien, who created a series of woodcuts depicting the skeletal figure of Death leading the dance.
• 🏰 The medieval church used the 'Dance Macabre' in religious theater to represent the instability caused by sin, aiming to convert the faithful.
• 🎵 The Middle Ages saw the rise of the Gothic architectural style, as well as the arts of tapestry, painting, and the poetry and music of troubadours and minstrels.
• 👣 The 'Estampie' and 'Volta' were dances that originated among the peasantry and later were adopted and refined by the nobility.
• 👗 Courtly dances like the 'Basse Dance' and the 'Voi Voler' emerged, with specific rules and steps that required practice and eventually led to the emergence of dance masters.
• 🌐 Dance evolved from rustic and spontaneous expressions to more refined forms, with the influence of different regions and cultures shaping the dances that were performed in courts and castles.

Q & A

What is the time period covered by the Middle Ages discussed in the script?

The Middle Ages discussed in the script span from the year 476, marked by the deposition of Romulus Augustus in Rome, to the year 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Turks.

How did the constant wars and invasions during the Middle Ages affect the cities and the people?

The constant wars and invasions during the Middle Ages led to a climate of instability where civil authority was replaced by ecclesiastical authority, and cities were populated due to these ongoing conflicts.

What happened to the Roman theaters and the performers during the Middle Ages?

Roman theaters were closed, and performers became itinerant artists, adapting their plays to the terms permitted by the Church.

What was the Church's stance on dance during the Middle Ages?

Dance was both condemned and tolerated during the Middle Ages. While some Church figures like Saint Basil considered it a noble activity, others saw it as sinful, and it was adapted into Christian ceremonies to take on a mystical character.

What is 'Dancing Mania' and how was it related to the Middle Ages?

Dancing Mania was a phenomenon that occurred between the 11th and 12th centuries and lasted until the Renaissance. It involved people dancing frenetically to relieve physical pain and epidemic diseases, which was a common occurrence during the Middle Ages.

How did the Church incorporate dance into its religious ceremonies?

The Church adapted ancient music and dances into Christian ceremonies, removing their erotic content and giving them a mystical character, thus integrating them into the religious practices.

What is the 'Dance of Death' and how was it used in medieval religious theater?

The 'Dance of Death' was a macabre dance used in medieval religious theater to represent the instability caused by sin, with the intention of converting souls. It was performed at the 'mouth of hell', a central part of the stage setting, often with an actor in a skull mask dancing with a scythe.

What were the characteristics of the 'Basse danse' that was danced in castles during the Middle Ages?

The 'Basse danse' was a slow and solemn dance performed in castles, characterized by heavy medieval costumes and a strict code of conduct. The dance involved partners exchanging places without twirling or jumping, and maintaining a relative distance from each other.

How did the 'Estampie' dance evolve from a peasant dance to a more refined form?

The 'Estampie' began as a vigorous and spontaneous dance among peasants but evolved into a more refined form as it was adopted by the nobility. It involved a series of fast and slow steps, and eventually, it was adapted for performance in courts with more elaborate movements and music.

What was the role of the 'trovadores' and 'menestréis' in the dissemination of dance and music during the Middle Ages?

The 'trovadores' and 'menestréis' were itinerant musicians and poets who traveled from castle to castle, entertaining the nobility with their music, poetry, and dance. They played a significant role in spreading various forms of dance and music across different regions during the Middle Ages.

How did the dance 'Pas de Basque' originate and what were its characteristics?

The 'Pas de Basque' originated among the peasants of Bergamo and involved a circle dance where men moved forward and women moved backward, holding hands at certain moments and sometimes even exchanging kisses. It was a dance that symbolized solidarity and was later adopted and refined for court performances.