[Photo Not Available]

        The Branle [Brahn-lee] is a French (Renaissance dance) that was well documented in the Festival of Nance in 1445, however it was called the Conje' (End) and was also performed on the Field of the Cloth of Gold" in 1520 and was a very gay and quick dance (generally danced outdoors) by a group, either in line or circle.

     It was considered a Court Dance sometimes being referred to as a carole. The name comes from Branler (Shake) and Brander (Brandish). The English

called the Branle "the Brawl" and described it as "a winging step and anterior kick and swing, the lifting of the leg, the twisting of the feet and the side fling of the foot are frills of past dances". The dance was said to be based on the Kick of a Cow ("rû de vache").

    Every French province had its own Branle; the Bretons called theirs 'Passepied' or 'Trihoris'. The Branle du Haut Barrois was specially reserved for attendants and waiting-maids, but was indulged in by the gentry when they disguised themselves as shepherds and shepherdesses as a pastime. There were also Branles mimés, such as the Branle des lavandières, where the movement of washing clothes was imitated by hand gestures, and the Branle des ermites, for which monks' attire was donned. The ronde and game 'sur le Pont d'Avignon ' is a survival of this dance, which was given in two files, the performers crossing their hands over the chest, and bowing in cadence.

     The Branle of the Torch was said to have been danced admirably by Marguerite de Valois and the Alençon, François, duc d'. Also, the Branle des Brandens was danced on the first Sunday in Lent* with a lighted torch in the dancer's hand. Probably this was a remnant of an old superstitious practice of the ancient Gauls*. During the month of February, which was the last of the solar year, the ancient inhabitants of France ran about the forests at night with lighted torches and danced a rite which was supposed to be one of purification, and also a ceremony which was meant to bring rest to their departed relatives and friends. This custom was founded in a utilitarian spirit by the Druidic priests*, who knew that to run about with lights in the woods would free the trees from caterpillars, which generally emerge from their eggs in Spring.

    The Charleston dance is said to have had its roots in the Branle as well as the Bourrée d'Auvergne originAting in the Branle of the Sabots. The Tourdion, with which the branles concluded, was of livelier rhythm. The Tourdion is the same as the Gaillarde, only that the latter is danced with jumping steps, while the Tourdion is glided. The Branle usually followed the Basse Dance.

Birth Place

Creation Date

Creator

Dance Type

Posters, Lobby Cards etc.

Sheet Music Covers

Music Titles - 4/4

appellé le petit gentilhomme (Estrées)

Branle 2 (Attaignant)

Branle d'Escosse (1588)

Branle des Chevaux (1588)

Branle Gay (Attaignant, Estrées)

Branles Communs (Estrées)

Bransle de Bourgogne (Gervaise)

Branles de champaigne legiers (Estrées)

Bransle de L'Officiel

Bransle de la Torche (Praetorius)

Bransle de Saint Nicolas (Polak)

Bransle des Lavandieres (Estrées)

Bransle Simple (Praetorius)

Night Clubs/ Ballrooms etc.

Theaters

Locations

1445 - Nance Festival

n/a

England

1463 - Court of Burgundy

France

1520 - Field of the Cloth Of Gold

Italy

Salle des Caryatides in the Louvre

Instructional / Exercise

Television

Ballets / Stage

n/a

n/a

n/a

Publications

n/a

Other Related Dances of the time...

Allemande

(e)Ceilidh

Lancers

sur le Pont d'Avignon

Barn Dances

Charleston

Passepied

Torch Dance

Basse / Hautes

Conje' (1455)

Pavanes

Tordion

Bourrée d'Auvergne

Cotillions

Quadrilles

Waltz

Brawl (1520)

Galliarde

Round Dances

Various Branle's

Branle bourguignon (Old Folks)

Branle de Pois

Branle Gai (newlyweds)

Branle of Scotland

Branle des Brandens

Branle Gais (1565 - Breton Girls)

Branle of the Sabots

Branle d'Ecosse

Branle des ermites

Branle of the Small Girl

Branle de Bourgogne

Branle des lavandières
(Washerwoman)

Branles mimés

Branle of the Torch*

Branle de Chandelier

Branle of Boulogne

Branle Simple

Branle de (s) Chevaux

Branle des Flambeaux (de Valois)

Branle of Brittany

The Gay Branle

Danse de la Bassede Bretagne

Branle Double

Branle of Burgandy

The Hermit's Branle

Branle du Haut Barrois

Branle of Poitou

Martengalle

Branle de Malte (Malta)

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

1560 - Girls of Breton

n/a

Catherine De Medici

* Marguerite de Valois

* the Due d'Alencon

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Writer

Date

Publisher

Orchesographie

Thoinot Arbeau

1588

Canon of Langress

The Dance, Ancient and Modern

Arabella C. Moore

-

-

Dance Magazine

-

1917

Dance Magazine

Mentor Magazine

Grant Overton

12/1926

Magazine

World History Of The Dance

Curt Sachs

1937

Norton & Company

Musicians

Singers

Poets / Writers

Attaignant, Pierre (c.1494-1552)

n/a

1445 - Nance

Estrées, Jean d' (16th c.)

1521 - Robert Coplande

Gervaise, Claude (c.1525-1583)

1536 - Arena

Polak, Jacob (c.1545-1605)

Praetorius, Michael (1571-1621)

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Brawle / Brawle

Conje'

Cotillion

révérences

Bouree

Conjedium

Renaissance

n/a