Very little is known about estampie steps or how the dance was done. Some clues can be obtained by listening to the music, and although it can be difficult to determine how the music was played in period, this one has a processional feel to it, and so Tim Dawson has set pavan steps to the music.
The music is by Moniot d'Arras, (fl. 1213 – 1239). There are words to the music, which can be sung by the dancers or by a chorus from the audience. I have not reproduced the words here.
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Starting Position |
The dance is to be done by couples, scattered around the hall. |
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Figure 1 |
Left single, right single, left double, all moving forwards. |
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Figure 2 |
Right single, left single, right double, performing a “conversion”. This is done with the man walking backwards while the lady walks forwards, so that the pair ends up turning around to face the other way. |
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Figure 3 |
Left single, right single, left double, all moving forwards. |
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Figure 4 |
Right single, left single, right double, each dancer casting a full circle outwards, rejoining his or her partner to commence again, proceding in the opposide direction to that which they began the previous figure. |
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