DANCING HISTORY
Thomas Baird has taught Historical Dance for over 35 years. In master classes at The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, Manhattan School of Music and Purchase College, as well as his open classes in New York City, he teaches Baroque Dance technique, dance types and rhythms of the Baroque, and offers phrases from reconstructed dances preserved in Feuillet notation. He teaches dances from the Italian Renaissance at Dance Masters Classes in Urbania, Italy, and has taught 19th-century ballroom dances, as well as Ragtime era dances at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Dance. Mr. Baird choreographed the Metropolitan Opera production of Alfano's Cyrano De Bergerac in 2005 and 2017. He has worked with the New York Philharmonic since 2006, where he has choreographed and performed historical dances from different eras for the Young People's Concerts. His period-style work has also been seen on Broadway in Sheridan's School for Scandal and O'Neil's A Touch of the Poet.
Baroque Dance Winter Retreat Online!
January 6th-10th, 2025
All classes taught by
Thomas Baird
Daily Schedule:
Baroque Dance Essentials 10-10:55 AM (EST)
If you’ve always been curious about Baroque Dance but didn’t know where to begin – this is the class for you! I’ll share original source material and we’ll learn the very basic movements to a few dance types such as sarabande, bourrée and menuet.
Level A Baroque Dance Technique 11-11:55 AM (EST)
Class will begin with a set Baroque Dance warm-up. You will learn basic Baroque Dance steps and phrases from notated dances including bourrée, sarabande, menuet, gavotte, and gigue. This class is for those who have dance experience in other dance styles, or very basic Baroque Dance experience.
Intro to Spanish Baroque Dance 12-12:55 PM (EST)
This class will focus on the particular vocabulary of Spanish Baroque Dance as well as short dance phrases from dance types such as Villanos, Folias, Pabana, Gallardas, Espanoleta and Marionas.
Level B & C Baroque Dance Technique 1-1:55 PM (EST)
This combined level class will begin with a set Baroque Dance warm-up, and will include port des bras, step exercises and phrases from the Notation and Reconstruction Classes. As many different dance types as possible will be included throughout the week. Expect a ballroom and a theatrical dance phrase each day.
Dance Reconstruction Class 2:15-3:15 PM (EST)
We will reconstruct the Entrée pour un Berger & une Bergere by Louis-Guillaume Pécour (L/M #4340). The music is a muzette and is composed by Marin Marais and is available online. Search for Academia Amsterdam where you will find TWO pieces titled Entrée pour un Berger & une Bergere. It's the one that is 1:53, not the rondeau. The music score can be found in his Piéces de Viole, Troisieme Livre, p. 99. For advanced notation readers only. Must be enrolled in a technique class to participate.
Private Coaching or Learn a Baroque Dance 3:30-6 PM (EST)
Choose a dance or one part of a dance (duet or a solo) to learn from notation or be coached in a dance that’s already in your repertoire. Students are allotted 30 minutes during this time slot each day. Must be enrolled in a technique class to participate.
Classes I-V each $15 per day. Taken separately or not in sequence, each $20 per class.
Class VI $50/per each 30-minute session
Fees accepted via Pay Pal: Louixiv203@att.net, Venmo: Thomas-Baird-20, or Zelle at ATtombaird@aol.com
If you have any questions, please ask. Looking forward to seeing you at the retreat!!
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Dancing History
"All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing."
Molière
