Thamesreach has several keen dancers. We dance at almost every revel, depending on numbers and enthusiasm.
We unfortunately know little of dance music and style from the early Middle Ages. However, the music and steps for high Middle Ages and Renaissance are known from accounts, music notations, and some published instructional books, as well as, angry churchmens’ complaints about the degenerate behaviour of kids these days suggests to us how popular dancing was, both at court and among ordinary people.
Some sources for recorded music and dance steps
- Gaita: premier medieval musicians in Insulae Draconis. Their website offers CDs and instructional dance books, including reconstructed dances, original compositions, and music for playing.
- Wolgemut: terrific medieval musicians with several recordings available. Tempus Saltandi is their extended-version dance album.
- SCA renaissance dance page: loads of music, steps, articles and opinions.
- Del’s dance book: one of the standards in the Society for dance steps outlined in plain English.
The shire of Harplestane (Scotland) holds a Dance Moot annually. If you enjoy dancing you don’t want to miss a full day of instruction and live music.