História da Dança na Idade Média

Robson Teixeira Porto

4 Nov 202010:40

Summary

TLDRRobson 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.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ The Middle Ages: Dance Amidst Turmoil

The script introduces the Middle Ages, a period extending from 476 AD with the deposition of Romulus Augustus in Rome to 1453 AD when Constantinople fell to the Turks. It discusses the societal changes during this era, marked by frequent wars and invasions, which led to the Church taking over civil authority and reinterpreting Greco-Roman legacy through Christian values. Theatres were closed, and performances became itinerant, adapting to Church-sanctioned terms. Dance was both condemned and tolerated, with figures like Saint Basil considering it noble and Saint Augustine viewing it as not gravely sinful. Despite Christianity, pagan and peasant customs persisted, with festivals for solstice and harvest seasons continuing. These were adapted into Christian ceremonies, turning erotic elements into mystical ones. The script also mentions 'Dancing Mania', a frenetic dance phenomenon that lasted until the Renaissance, as a response to physical pain and epidemic diseases. It inspired a series of 41 woodcuts depicting the skeletal and sinister figure, symbolizing the dance. The script also touches on the 'Dance of Death' in medieval religious theatre, aiming to convert sinners by showing the instability caused by sin.

05:01

🎭 The Flourishing of Medieval Artistry

This paragraph delves into the roles of troubadours, minstrels, and jongleurs in medieval castles, who brought poetry, music, and dance to the nobility. Troubadours, often of noble or common origin, composed musical poems and were patronized by courts. Minstrels and jongleurs were skilled in various instruments, storytelling, mimicry, and illusionism. They also knew regional folk dances and created a type of performance called 'Pastorale', which combined all arts to celebrate vigils. The script describes the evolution of courtly dances, starting from the 12th century with 'The Best Dance', a slow and solemn dance reflecting the lifestyle, heavy clothing, and etiquette of the nobility. It also mentions the 'volee de fizer', a dance where women danced blindfolded, passing a token among them. The paragraph further explores dances that originated among peasants and later were adopted by the nobility, such as the 'corante' from France and the 'zarabands' from Spain. It also discusses the 'estampie', a vigorous dance that evolved from a peasant dance to a more refined form, and the 'planery', a Polish dance that was competitive and vigorous, eventually influencing courtly dances.

10:03

📢 Engaging with the Audience: A Call to Action

The final paragraph serves as a call to action for the audience, encouraging them to like and comment on the video to help improve its visibility and quality. It invites viewers to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications to stay updated with new content. The speaker expresses gratitude and hints at a potential future lesson on dance in the modern age, specifically during the Renaissance period. The paragraph concludes with a warm farewell and well-wishes for the viewers' studies, promising to meet again in the next video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period, spans from the 5th to the late 15th century, marked by the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and the beginning of the Renaissance around the 15th century. In the video, the Middle Ages are discussed as a time of significant cultural and social change, particularly in the context of dance, where ecclesiastical authority replaced civil authority, and many Roman traditions were reinterpreted through a Christian lens.

💡Ecclesiastical Authority

Ecclesiastical authority refers to the power and influence of the Christian church over secular matters. In the video, it is mentioned that during the Middle Ages, civil authority was replaced by ecclesiastical authority, which greatly influenced cultural practices, including dance, as the church sought to control and reinterpret many aspects of life according to Christian beliefs.

💡Dance Mania

Dance Mania, also known as 'danse maniaque' or 'St. John's Dance,' was a social phenomenon during the Middle Ages where people would dance frenetically in public spaces, often as a response to physical pain or disease. The video describes this phenomenon as a precursor to later dance forms and highlights how it was a way for people to cope with the hardships of the time, such as the epidemics that swept through Europe.

💡Dance of Death

The Dance of Death is a medieval allegory representing the idea that all people, regardless of their station in life, are equal in death. In the video, it is mentioned that this theme was used in religious theater to represent the instability caused by sin, with the intention of converting the audience. The Dance of Death was performed with actors wearing skull masks and wielding scythes, symbolizing the inevitability of death.

💡Trobadors and Minstrels

Trobadors were poet-composers, and Minstrels were traveling musicians and performers in the Middle Ages. They played a significant role in spreading and preserving the culture of the time through their music, poetry, and dance. The video mentions that they would perform in castles and fairs, bringing entertainment and artistic expression to the medieval nobility and common people alike.

💡Gothic Architecture

Gothic architecture is an architectural style that emerged in the High Middle Ages and evolved into the Renaissance. It is characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. The video suggests that Gothic architecture, like other art forms of the time, was influenced by the prevailing religious and cultural themes, and it often incorporated elements of dance and movement in its decorative elements.

💡Courtly Love

Courtly love was a highly ritualized and idealized form of love that was prevalent in the literature and poetry of the Middle Ages. It often involved a nobleman expressing his love for a woman, usually of higher social status. The video implies that this concept influenced the development of courtly dances, where men and women would engage in stylized, respectful, and often romantic interactions through dance.

💡Pastourelle

A Pastoral or Pastor Hélio was a type of medieval drama that combined elements of poetry, music, and dance to celebrate the shepherd's life. The video describes how these performances brought together various arts and were a form of entertainment that was enjoyed by both the nobility and common people, often featuring themes of love and nature.

💡Estampie

The Estampie was a popular dance form during the Middle Ages, particularly in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was characterized by its lively rhythm and was often performed by groups of dancers. The video mentions that it was a dance that evolved from a peasant dance to a more refined form suitable for courtly settings, reflecting the cultural assimilation and adaptation that occurred during this period.

💡Basse Dance

The Basse Dance was a slow and stately dance that originated in the late Middle Ages, typically performed in castles and later evolved into the ballroom dances we know today. The video describes it as a dance where partners would maintain a certain distance from each other due to the heavy costumes and the etiquette of the time, which required a formal and controlled manner of movement.

💡Carnival

Carnival is a period of celebration or indulgence before the fasting season of Lent in the Christian calendar. The video suggests that during the Middle Ages, Carnival was a time when various forms of dance, music, and revelry were enjoyed by the populace, often incorporating elements of satire and social commentary into the performances.

Highlights

Introduction to the Middle Ages, a period spanning from the fall of Rome in 476 to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The influence of constant wars and invasions on the medieval population and the shift of civil authority to ecclesiastical during this period.

The reinterpretation of Greco-Roman legacy through Christian codes and the closure of Roman theaters.

Dance being both condemned and tolerated by the Church, with varying views from religious figures like Saint Basil and Saint Augustine.

The adaptation of pagan and folk customs into Christian ceremonies, transforming the erotic nature of dances into a mystical character.

The phenomenon of 'Dancing Mania', a frenzied dancing response to physical pain and epidemic diseases during the Middle Ages.

The artistic response to Dancing Mania by painters, creating a series of woodcuts depicting the skeletal and sinister figures.

The belief in Italy that the cause of Dancing Mania was a tarantula bite, leading to vigorous dancing as a cure.

The historical precursor to the Tarantella dance and its role in social solidarity during epidemics.

The dance of Saint Vitus in Germany during the typhus and plague epidemic, as a form of exorcism and community bonding.

The religious theater of the Middle Ages, using dance macabre to represent the instability caused by sin.

The survival of religious theater until the 18th century, when it was banned by Martin Luther.

The expression of Jequiti in Gothic architecture, tapestries, and painting, reflecting the artistic tastes of the time.

The role of troubadours, minstrels, and jongleurs in medieval castles, bringing poetry, music, and dance.

The creation of Pastoral Helios, a spectacle combining various arts to celebrate vigils with poems, music, and virtuous dances.

The emergence of castle dances in the 12th century, precursors to our modern ballroom dances, with The Best Dance being a solemn and slow dance.

The evolution of dance from rural and rustic improvisations to more refined forms adopted by the nobility.

The introduction of dance masters and scientists to the courts, indicating the growing sophistication and codification of dance steps.

The invitation for viewers to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on dance history.