The dance steps of the 15th century
HALF TURN Quick half turn, to the left or right, after which the dancer faces the opposite direction.
MOVEMENT Slight shake of the shoulders raising the head in defiance.
DOPPIO or DOUBLE STEP The left foot moves forward, the right reaches the left, which, proceeding forward, joins the right. In the Italian double step the dancers rise onto the toes during the steps and lower onto the ball of the foot at the end of the tempo (camping and swaying).
SEMPIO or SIMPLE STEP Single step forward.
PIVA Very fast double step that begins with a step forward with the left foot; then you quickly step forward on the right foot, bringing it slightly behind the left and proceed again with the left. The three actions occur in two beats. The second is performed quickly on the second beat and the third step forward occurs immediately afterwards (“one and two, one and two” tempo).
REVERENCE The reverence in bassa danza takes place in six beats: the left foot moves forward; the head is straight; the knee of the right leg is bent, while the left remains tense and the right arm accompanies the bending of the torso forward, bringing the hand to the height of the heart and then lowering it towards the left side. You begin to stand up by straightening your knees until you return to the position.
RECOVERY The left foot opens backwards and comes forward again next to the right foot.
SALTARELLO The skip is performed in three steps which can be summarized as step-cadence-step: step forward with the left foot, rapid "cadence" on the right foot (moving the weight of the body backwards), then step forward on the left foot leaving right foot raised. This, however, is only one of many interpretations of this passage, about which the manuscripts of the period are not sufficiently clear in their description of the passages.
QUATERNARIA or SALTARELLO ALLA TEDESCA It is performed in 4 stages starting with the left foot: one step forward with the left foot; a step forward with the right foot, bringing it slightly in front or slightly behind the left; one step with the left foot; a leap forward onto the left, leaving the right raised to initiate the next step. There is a certain similarity with the piva step, even if it is performed with less speed.
VOLTA DEL GIOIOSO The name of this step probably derives from Domenico da Piacenza's dance Rostiboli Gioioso, in which this type of round vault appears. It is a complete turn, in two movements with two simple steps, the first on the right foot and the second on the left and a restart to the right that brings the dancer back to the starting position.
VOLTA TONDA Complete turn, to the left, to return to the same position in which the movement began.