Chiara Stella (Il Ballarino)

 



This is a cascarda for one couple, which means it is a short dance, with a verse/chorus structure, in triple time. The reconstruction is by Rachael Zavodnyik.

The name of this dance means “Bright Star”. At Lochac's first coronation, it was performed by 4 couples in a cross pattern, with each couple representing one of the stars on the Lochac device.

 


Verse 1 – Couple together.

Begin standing opposite your partner, holding hands.

1 - 2

RvML

Riverenza Minima

3 – 10

Sz x 8

Travelling in a circle, do 8 Seguiti spezatti (beginning on the left foot).

11 - 12

Scambiata L, CdL

A scambiata on the left and a cadenza with the left foot.

 


Chorus A

13 - 14

TbL TbR TbL TbR

4 Trabuchetti (L, R, L, R)


15 - 16

Trango L, R

2 Trangati, backwards and flankingly (L, R)

 


Chorus B

1

RpL RpL

2 Riprese, left.


2

TbL TbR

Two trabuchetti, left then right.


3 – 4

SzL CdR

1 Seguito Spezzato volto (turning) (L – ie in a circle over your left shoulder), finishing with a cadenza on the right foot.


5 – 8

Repeat

Repeat bars 1 – 4 above, starting with the right foot instead of the left.

 


Verse 2 – Man alone

1 – 2

SzL SzR

The man alone travels 2 Seguiti spezzati flankingly forward (L, R)


3

PsL PsR

2 Passi presti (L, R)


4

TbL TbR

2 Trabuchetti (L,R)


5 – 6

SzL CdR

1 Seguito spezzato volto (L) doing a full turn over the left shoulder, and a cadenza with the right foot, turning again to face back the way you came. You should end up just past your partner still facing them, having done a full turn and a half.


7 – 12

Repeat

Repeat 1 – 6 above, but this time beginning on the right foot and ending up back in place, facing your partner.

 


Chorus A

Both the man and the lady do chorus A, as above.

 


Chorus B

Both the man and the lady do chorus B, as above.

 


Verse 3 – Woman alone

The woman repeats what the man did in verse 2, finishing with both partners doing chorus A and B as above.

 


Verse 4 – Couple together

Taking right hands with your partner (you will now dance the pattern in a circle)

1

PsL PsR

2 Passi Presti (L,R)

2

TbL TbR

2 Trabuchetti (L, R)

3

RpL RpR

2 Riprese (L, L)

4

TbL TbR

2 Trabuchetti (L, R)

5

SzL turning

Let go of hands, and do a Seguito spezzato volto (turning) L over your L shoulder.

6

CdR

Cadenza with the right. You should have changed places with your partner doing this pattern, and be facing back to your starting point.

Now repeat all of the steps from 1 – 6, but starting on the right foot.

7

PsR PsL

2 Passi Presti (R, L)

8

TbR TbL

2 Trabuchetti (R, L)

9

RpR RpL

2 Riprese (R, R)

10

TbR TbL

2 Trabuchetti (R, L)

11

SzR turning

Let go of hands, and do a seguito spezzato volto (turning) R over your R shoulder.

12

CdL

Cadenza with the left. You should have returned to your place doing this pattern.

 


Chorus A

Both the man and the lady do chorus A, as above.

 


Chorus B

Both the man and the lady do chorus B, as above.

 


Notes

This is a good first time cascarda to learn.

There are some step sequences that occur in this dance that occur in various variations throughout all of Caroso's cascarde. One example is the Rp Rp Tb Tb Sz Cd sequence, that occurs in this dance and also in others, in particular the variation in Spagnoletta is to do a meza riverenza in place of the cadenza, and not to do the spezzato turning.

Many cascarde have the ripresa – ripresa – trabuchetto – trabuchetto sequence at the least, and this dance is a good one for practicing that sequence alone.