This is one of the most complex dances in Cesare Negri's book Le Gratie d'Amore. While it is basically similar to some of Negri's more complex balli, it has a number of steps and step sequences that are unique to the canaries dance form.

This is a dance for two people, a man and a woman.

The dance commences with the couple standing facing towards the front of the hall, with the man on the left and the lady on the right. At the end of the opening passegio, they will be facing each other, across the hall, about 2 or 3 paces apart.

The Passegio Together

The diagram shows the path the man takes in this passegio only. The lady takes an identical but opposite path.

(1) 1-8

RvL

Riverenza grave.

9-16

CnL CnR

Two continenze, left then right.

17

pause

(2) 1-8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Four fioretti spezzati schisciati (sliding canary steps), advancing, commencing on the left foot.

9-16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Taking right arms, and turn around each other to the left, leading with the left shoulder.

17

RvML

Quickly make a meza riverenza.

(3) 1-8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Change hands and turn around each other, leading with the left shoulder. End up facing each other. Finish with a quick reverenza.

Turning Passegio

(3) 9-16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man circles to the left in place. Finish each canary step "in saltino" with a small hop.

Conclusion

(3) 17

PsL PsR

The man does two passi presti, ending with the feet together, facing towards the lady.

At the end of this passegio the couple will be facing each other across the width of the dance floor. The rest of the dance is performed from this position. During each of the following passegios, the person dancing advances towards their partner with an “advancing” sequence of steps, and then retreats away from their partner with a “ritarata”, or retreating sequence.

Advancing Passegio

(4) 1-2

Stamp L R L R

Moving forwards towards the lady.

Precede the first stamp by turning the left shoulderforwards, and raising the left foot up to about knee level.

3

Stamp L L

4

Stamp L L

Repeat.

5 - 6

BsL BsL

Two seguiti battuti.

7

RmL

Reprise minuta to the left (2 movements only).

8

BsL

Seguito battuto left.

9 - 16

repeat

Repeat 1 - 8 above, on the right foot.

17

pause

Ritarata

(5) 1 - 4

Stamp L, RmL

With the right shoulder still facing forwards, stamp the left foot, and retreat away from the lady with a double reprise minuta (4 movements).

5 - 8

Stamp R, RmR

As above, but retreating with the right foot.

9 - 10

Stamp L R

Take two stamping steps backwards, first by stamping the left foot behind the right foot, then the right foot behind the left.

11 - 12

Stamp L R L

As 9 - 10, but quicker with 3 stamps.

13 - 16

repeat

Repeat 9 - 12 above, starting with the right foot.

17

pause

Turning Passegio

(6) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio, as above.

Turning Passegio

(6) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The lady does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(7) 1 - 8

BsL BsR BsL BsR
BsL BsR BsL BsR

The lady does 8 beaten sequences, advancing slightly on each one.

Two reprise minute, left then right.

9 - 12

RmL RmR

13 - 16

ScL ScR

Two scorsi sequences. These are done quickly, running through the steps, around in a circle, ending up back in place.

17

pause

Ritarata

(8) 1 - 16

PsGL PsGR
PsGL PsGR

4 Passi Gravi backwards, stamping the foot after each one (the stamping motion is the foot down part of the passo).

17

pause

Close feet

Turning Passegio

(9) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The lady does the turning passegio, as above.

Turning Passegio

(9) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(10) 1

Tap L L L

Tap with left foot: heel, toe, heel.

2

Tap L L

Tap with left foot: toe, heel.

3

BkL

Kick backwards with the left foot.

4

CdL

Left Cadenza.

5 - 6

PsL PsR

Two passi forwards, left then right.

7 - 8

BsL BsR

Two seguiti battuti, left then right.

9 - 12

RmR RmL

Two reprise minuti, right then left.

13 - 14

RcL RcR

2 recacciate, left then right.

15 - 16

BsL BsR

Two seguiti battuti.

17

pause

(11) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #10, starting with the right foot.

Ritarata

(12) 1 - 2

Tap L L L

Tap with left foot: heel, toe, heel.

3 - 4

TbL TbR

Trabuchetti, left then right.

5 - 6

Jump L

Jump backwards onto both feet.

7 - 8

PsGL

Step backwards onto the left foot.

9 - 16

repeat

Repeat 1 - 8 above, leading with the right foot.

17

pause

(13) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #12.

Turning Passegio

(14) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

Turning Passegio

(14) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The lady does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(15) 1 - 3

TbL TbR TbL

The lady turns her left shoulder to the man, then does three trabuchetti.

4

close

close feet and pause.

5 - 8

RmR RmL

Reprise Minuta right, moving away from the man, then left moving towards the man.

9 - 16

repeat

Repeat the above, starting by turning the right shoulder towards the man, and leading with the right foot.

17

pause

(16) 1 - 17

repeat

repeat the above

Ritarata

(17) 1 - 8

ScL ScL ScL ScL

Four seguiti scorsi, travelling in a circle to the left.

Four seguiti scorsi, travelling in a circle to the right.

9 - 16

ScR ScR ScR ScR

17

pause

(18) 1 - 16

RmL RmR RmL RmR

Four reprise minutae, first with the left foot while facing the right shoulder towards the man, thus moving away from him. Then turn the left shoulder to the man and do the second one with the right foot, moving away from him again; then again with the left, and again with the right.

17

pause

This passage does not end with the turning passegio, because that is the first part of the next passage, which is the passage together.

The couple have now completed their first two variations to each other. In this passegio, the man and the lady exchange places.

Turning Passegio

(19) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Both do the turning passegio.

Advancing Passegio

(19) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Both do four sliding steps forwards to meet, touching right hands.

Meza riverenza, touching right hands.

Both do four sliding steps into each others' original places.

17

RvML

(20) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Turning Passegio

9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

17

RvML

Both do a meza riverenza.

Now having completed the exchange of positions, the dancers each do the final two variations from each others’ former positions.

Advancing Passegio

(21) 1 - 3

BsL BsR BsR

Three beaten sequences, left, right, right.

4

Stamp L L

Stamp left forwards, then backwards.

5

Stamp L R

Stamp left forwards, then (stepping forwards), stamp right forwards.

6

Stamp R R

Stamp right backwards then forwards.

7

Stamp L L

Stamp left backwards then forwards

8

Stamp L CdL

Stamp left backwards then Cadenza left

9 - 10

PsGR

Passo Grave sideways to the right.

11 - 12

Hop Hop

Two hops on the right foot, ending with feet side by side.

13

Hop PsR

Hop forwards onto the left foot, then step onto the right foot.

14

BsL

Beaten sequence on the left foot.

15 - 16

Hop PsR BsL

repeat 13 - 14.

17

pause

(22) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #21 above, leading with the right foot.

Ritirata

(23) 1 - 4

PsGL PsGR

Two slow steps backwards, left then right, stamping the foot after each step.

5 - 8

Hop R Hop L

Change to the right foot and hop on it, then close feet, change to the left foot, and hop, moving backwards with each hop.

9 - 12

RmL

Reprisa Minuta, left.

13 - 14

BsR BsL

Two beaten sequences, right then left.

15 - 16

CdL

Left Cadenza

17

Pause

(24) 1 - 16

repeat

Repeat 1 - 16 above, leading with the right foot.

17

RvML

Meza Riverenza.

Turning Passegio

(25) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

Turning Passegio

(25) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The lady does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(26) 1 - 4

RmL

Turn L shoulder to partner, reprise minuta (4 movements).

5 - 7

TbL TbR TbL

Three trabuchetti, still with the left shoulder turned to the partner.

8

pause

9 - 16

repeat

Repeat 1 - 8 above, starting with the right foot.

17

pause

Ritirata

(27) 1 - 16

4 x PsGL PsGR

8 passi gravi, going around to the left in an S curve, returning to the place that the lady started the variation.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(28) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #26, above, commencing on the right foot and finishing on the left foot.

Ritirata

(29) 1 - 16

4 x PsGR PsGL

8 passi gravi, going around to the in an S curve, returning to the place that the lady started the variation.

17

pause

(30) 1 - 4

RmL RmR

Two reprise minutae, the first to the left, facing the R shoulder to the man, retreating, then with the R facing the left shoulder to the man, retreating again.

5 - 8

RvL

Both do a Riverenza.

Turning Passegio

(30) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(31) 1

FL(R)

Fioretti "contratempo", that is a Fioretti done with the left foot moving to the right.

2

Stamp R R

Two beats with the right foot, one forwards and one to the side.

3

Stamp R, SpR

Stamp backwards with the right foot, then do a sottopiede to the right.

4

CpL

Capriole spezatta to the left.

5 - 8

RmR RmL

Two reprise minutae

9

PsL stamping

Step onto the left foot stamping it 3 times.

10

PsR stamping

as above, with the right foot.

11

PsL stamping

as above, with the left foot.

12

CdL

Left cadenza

13

PsR

Passo backwards, stamping the right foot once.

14

PsL

as above, with the left foot.

15 - 16

PsR L R

Three faster steps backwards R, L, R.

17

CdR

Right cadenza

Ritirata

(32) 1 - 3

CbR CbL CbR

Three cambiamente R, L, R.

4

CdL

Left Cadenza

5

Stamp R R

Raise the right foot high, then stamp it level with the left foot, then behind it (with the middle of the right foot level with the left heel).

6

Stamp R R

repeat the above.

7 - 8

SpR CpL

Right sottopiede, left capriole with a cadenza

9 - 10

RmR

Turning the left shoulder to partner, right reprisa minuta.

11 - 12

SpL CpR

Left Sottopiede, right capriole with a cadenza

13 - 14

RmR

Right reprisa minuta.

15

Stamp L L

Beat left foot beside then in in front of right foot.

16

Stamp L L

Beat left foot in front of then behind right foot.

17

CdL

Left cadenza.

(33) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #31 with opposite feet.

(34) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #32 with opposite feet.

Turning Passegio

(35) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The man does the turning passegio.

Turning Passegio

(35) 9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

The lady does the turning passegio.

17

pause

Advancing Passegio

(36) 1

Stamp L

Beat left heel beside right foot.

2

Stamp L

Beat left toe in front of right foot.

3

Stamp L

Beat left heel in front of right foot.

4

Stamp L

Beat left heel behind right foot, then close feet.

5 - 6

BsR BsL

Two beaten sequences

7 - 8

RmR RmL

Reprise minutae R, L.

9 - 16

repeat

Repeat 1 - 8 above, leading with the right foot.

17

pause

(37) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat the above.

Ritarata

(38) 1

Stamp L

Stamp L, backwards.

2

Stamp R

Stamp R, backwards.

3 - 4

Stamp L L L

Three stamps behind with the left foot.

5 - 8

repeat

Repeat 1 - 4 above, starting with the right foot.

9 - 12

PsGL

Turn right shoulder to partner, then step to the left with the left foot, stamping the foot.

13 - 16

RmL

Reprise minuta away from partner.

17

pause

(39) 1 - 17

repeat

Repeat #38 above, starting with the right foot, and turning the left shoulder.

In this final passegio, the dancers advance to meet each other in the middle of the dance floor. They then circle around each other, and riverenza to each other and then the audience to conclude the dance.

Turning Passegio

(40) 1 - 8

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Both dancers do the turning passegio.

9 - 16

SsL SsR SsL SsR

Both dancers do the turning passegio again.

17

pause

Exchanging Passegio

(41) 1 - 4

SsL SsR

Two sliding steps forwards to meet.

6 steps linking arms, and circling 1½ times around to the left to change places.

6 steps linking arms, and circling around to the right to change places.

5 - 16

3 x SsL SsR

17

Pause

(42) 1 - 12

3 x SsL SsR

13 - 16

RvL

Riverenza to end the dance.

17

RvL

Riverenza to the audience.