Alesandresca
a bassadanza for two by Guglielmo Ebreo
Source: Smith's translation, reconstructed by Dafydd and Conandil.
Music: Forse che si, forse che no, Alesandresca
involved, but the beginning of the dance is very clear.
Starting position: man in front of the woman, leading.
Section 1:
1 Two sempi (left and right) and a doppio (left)
2 Doppio (left)
3&4 Voltatonda with a sempio on the right and a doppio on the left (which starts in the middle of measure 3 and finishes
in the middle of measure 4), finishing measure 4 with a mezavolta to reverse positions (the woman is leading after
this half-turn).
5&6 Two riprese, left and right
7 Two continenze, left and right
8-14 Repeat all of the above, with the mezavolta in the middle returning the man to the lead position
Section 2:
15&16 Shift to go right shoulder to right shoulder and circle with two sempi, left and right, and a doppio left
17&18 Reverse directions and circle left shoulder to left shoulder with two sempi, right and left, and a doppio right
19&20 Take right hands and circle with two sempi, left and right, and a doppio left
21&22 Take left hands and circle with two sempi, right and left, and a doppio right
Section 3:
23 Riverentia on the left
24 Separate from each other with a sempio backwards on the left, the mezavolta on the right to face away from your partner
25 Ripresa left
26 Voltatonda in two sempi, right and left
27 Ripresa right (remain facing away from your partner throughout)
Section 4:
28&29 Take two doppi, left and right, away from your partner, then mezavolta to face your partner again
30&31 Two riprese, left and right
32 Riverentia on the left
Section 5:
33 Man movimento (scosso), woman responds
34&35 Approach your partner with two saltarelli, left and right (in bassadanza time)
36 Voltatonda in two sempi right and left
37 Ripresa right
38 Riverentia on the left, touching right hands, and at the end the woman adjusts so that she's once again in the lead of the pair
39&40 Two riprese, left and right
41 Riverentia on the left
The entire dance repeats with the Forse music - the second time, the roles are reversed.