[SCA-Dance] Bransle du Rat?

[Greg Lindahl]

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 01:02:38AM -0600, Charlene C wrote:

> http://ballifolk.altervista.org/branle_du_rat.html
> 
> They claim the dance is originated in Czechoslovakia and was in vogue
> in France c. 1830-1850. Their description of how to the dance
> specifies polka steps (which is another argument in favor of a later
> dating).

Polka step not found in the Renaissance, no singles, no doubles, not
in a known Arbeau bransle formation (cf Occam's Razor reconstruction
of the Horses Bransle), a figure which no other Renaissance dance has
(the spinning thing), and the music is a fine Polka tune, which is not
much like Renaissance tunes. Cute lyrics about cats and rats, both of
which *were* present in the Renaissance.

-- Gregory