The Dances of Shakespeare

First Published in 2005. Dances of Shakespeare gives a brief introduction to how to perform all of the dance styles featured in Shakespeare’s plays. Designed for the practicing director, actor, or choreographer, it gives clear instruction on how to perform popular dances of Shakespeare’s day, including masques, brawls, canaries, corantos, galliards, jigs, La Volta, pavans, morris dances, and roundels. Accompanied by clear illustrations, these instructions allow even the dance-challenged to quickly master enough technique to suit amateur, community, college, or semi-professional productions. Other useful features include a chronological listing of popular dances similar in spirit to those of Shakespeare’s days, designed for those staging Shakespeare’s work in periods other than as written, as well as an appendix list of the plays grouped by what is called for in the text: a dance, a masque, or a specific dance form. Dances of Shakespeare is a must have for all student directors and performers interested in staging Shakespeare’s works.

Author Biography

Jim Hoskins is Professor of Theater at the Florida State University Asolo Conservatory and staff choreographer for the Asolo Theater. He has taught period movement and dance for the past 28 years in workshops around the country as well as at Penn State University and FSU. He previously was a performing actor and dancer.