Free classes in Renaissance dance are offered by the University of Toronto's Renaissance Dance Club, and by the Royal City of Eoforwic, which is the local group of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an historical recreation society devoted to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Attendance at the Renaissance Dance Club and SCA activities is not restricted to members. (The links to these two sites will give more information on the Society and activities in the Toronto area.)

The classes are currently given at Hart House, on Hart House Circle, in the Music Room.

There is usually an introductory level dance class given by the SCA on the third Tuesday of the month (Wednesday, from May to August), held after the meeting (which begins at 8 PM). More information should be available on the Eoforwic webpage. For more information on the type of dances covered, here is my old introductory dance page. I am not currently teaching these classes, so the content may vary.

Friday night classes

A more intensive level of class is held on some Friday nights, given by the Renaissance Dance Club. Schedule of the Friday classes. We have the room from 7:00 PM (or sometimes 7:30 - check the schedule), but it is often open before then, so anyone needing a warm-up should come early and should be able to do one on their own there or in the hallway. (Warming-up is advised, but I do not run one.) We start with step practice, if needed, and then we work on dances, generally from the 15th-century Italian repertoire, though other periods are sometimes covered. The dances are taught on an ongoing basis, so one dance may be introduced, while another may be only reviewed, as it has been taught at the last few practices. Because of this, newcomers can not count on participating in all the dances when they first attend, but there will always be at least one dance at the beginning taught completely. For this class, some sort of dance shoe is advised. You need to be able to pivot (so the sole should be smooth enough to do so - rubber soles can be dangerous as they grip too much), and to be able to move forward, sideways and backward at speed. (High heels, platform shoes, and sports shoes with a base that widens are all potentially dangerous.) Chinese slippers are a cheap alternative which is reasonably effective.

For more information I can be contacted by email at rosina@pathcom.com

English Country Dance
Baroque Dance

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