You are here

Contra Passo (Chigi)

Also known as: 

Balletto chiamatto contra passo

Source: 
Dance Type: 
Number of dancers: 
As many as will
Discussion: 

Very like Caroso's Contrapasso for two in Il Ballarino. Further evidence that it was a widespread and popular dance already.

About this translation: 

Katherine Davies, 2015; from transcription in:

Fabio Carboni, Barbara Sparti, and Agostino Ziino, "Balli to Dance and Play in a Sixteenth-Century Miscellany", Music Observed: Studies in memory of William C. Holmes, Ed. Colleen Reardon and Susan Parisi, Harmonie Park Press, 2004. Pp31-54

Translation: 

DANCE CALLED CONTRAPASSO

Begin by taking the woman by the left hand giving her your right, riverentia, continentie.

Two passi, beginning with the left, turning around, and a seguito, and, turning again, another two, beginning with the right and a seguito.

And a seguito and two  passi with the left, giving both hands; two passi with the right and a seguito, giving the left hands and, stopping, seguiti turning around [seguiti involta], two to the left hand and two to the right hand.

And then, taking the right arm with your own right, two passi and a seguito with the left and, giving the left arms, two passi and a seguito with the right; and seguiti turning around.

And then, [atacandosi - touching?] with both hands, two passi with the left and one seguito turning around; and then turning again with two with the right and a seguito and, releasing hands, seguiti turning.

And giving the right hand, a seguito with the left; and then the left one with the right; until you come to eight, always changing hands.

And returning to your own lady, give her the right hand, riverentia, continentie and seguiti turning around.

And the man will do two passi forwards and one seguito; and then backwards with the right two passi and one seguito; and, while the man goes backwards, the woman does the same forwards; and seguiti turning around.

And the man will do the riverentia to the woman, and then the woman to the man; and the seguiti turning around and riverentia.