This is a dance for two people. The reconstruction is by Adina Hamilton.

This is a very slow dance until the sciolta. It’s all about doing the steps gracefully. Start the dance at the foot of the hall, holding both hands (like Contentezza d’Amore).

Figure 1

Part A

1 - 4

RvL

Riverenza Grave

5 - 8

CnL CnR

Two continenze, left and right. After completing this, drop both hands but remain facing each other in a line.

9 - 12

SgL SgR

Moving sideways away from each other to the left and then back to the right to end up facing again.

13 - 14

TbL TbR

Two trabuchetti, left then right

15 - 16

RpL RpL

Riprese away from each other, back and to the left.

17 - 20

SgR SgL

Two seguiti sideways, right then left.

21 - 22

TbR TbL

Trabuchetti right then left

23 - 24

RpR RpR

Riprese back and to the right. The dancers should end up somewhat apart, but more or less facing each other.

25 - 28

SzL SzR

Two spezatti, to end up facing proper up the hall. Take hands as you meet.

29 - 32

RvL

Riverenza Grave on the left foot.

This requires two repeats of the part “A” music, as do the part A sections of the next three figures.

There is no part “B” in figure 1, although some recordings of the music have a part B. If you need to include a part B in the dance, then do the same part B as shown in figure 2.

Adina says: This is a perfectly OK interpretation – there is a mistake somewhere in the Il Ballarino text, and the decision whether or not to do a B section in the first figure is pretty arbitrary.

Figure 2

Part A

This section is done processing down the hall.

1 - 8

SgL SgR SgL SgR

Four seguiti beginning on the left foot.

9 - 12

PtL PtR

Two puntate, left then right.

13 - 14

PsL PsR

Two passi, left then right

15 - 16

SgL

Seguito on the left foot.

17 - 32

Repeat

Repeat all of the above, beginning on the right foot.

Part B

1 - 2

TbL TbR

Two trabuchetti, left then right.

3 - 6

RvL

Riverenza on the left foot.

Figure 3

Begin this figure by taking right hands, both facing forwards. The lady will have her right arm across the front of her body to hold the man’s right hand.

1 - 2

PsL PsR

Two passi, left then right.

3 - 6

SzL SzR

Spezatti left then right. At the end of this section, drop hands and turn to face each other, but turned slightly to your left.

7 - 12

PsL PsR SzL SzR

Repeat the above steps, moving around into each others’ places.

13 - 14

SzL

Moving sideways away from each other to the left.

15 - 16

RvMR

Riverenza minima on the left foot, end up by turning back to face each other as you come out of the riverenza.

17 - 20

SzR RvML

Move back towards each other, end up facing each other after the riverenza.

21 - 24

PsLb PsRb PsLb PsRb

Four passi moving backwards away from each other.

25 - 28

SgL SgR

Doing a full turn around over your left shoulder

29 - 32

SgL SgR

Moving back forwards in a zig-zag pattern to meet. End up facing improper up the hallway again

Part B

Repeat part B from Figure 2

Figure 4

Repeat Figure 3, this time beginning on the right foot, and ending up facing each other once again. Start the figure by taking left hands.

Sciolta

The music for the sciolta is in triple
time (3/4 played quickly).

1 - 8

SzL SzR SzL SzR

Four Spezatti moving around each other, coming back into your own places

9 - 12

TbL TbR TbL TbR

Four trabuchetti facing each other

13 - 16

SzL SzR

Turning around over your left shoulder.

17 - 20

SzL RvMR

Spezatto moving forwards, then take right hands to do the riverenza.

21 - 24

SzR RvML

Repeat, taking left hands for the riverenza.

25 - 26

RpL RpL

Two riprese to the left.

27 - 28

TbL TbR

Trabuchetti left then right.

29 - 30

SzL CdR

Spezatto, turning over your left shoulder, finish with a Cadenza

31 - 32

PsLb PsRb

Two steps flankingly backwards away from each other

33 - 34

SgL

Seguito left, moving forwards to meet again.

35 - 38

RvR

Finish the dance by facing forwards again and doing a riverenza on the right foot.