How to dance the Renaissance Pavane for Pocahontas,

How to dance the Renaissance Pavane for Pocahontas, a historically accurate princess dance 

Don’t you love the romance of a ball? The Renaissance ball in the Disney film Pocahontas 2 was a grand and elegant affair. Set in the post Elizabethan court of King James and Queen Anne, it displayed dignified dancing.

At the Ball

In the middle of the ball Pocahontas had the opportunity to dance with John Rolf. When John Rolf danced with Pocahontas, they demonstrated pieces of the court dance the Pavane. This was a classic court dance used to open ceremonies and balls in the Renaissance period.

To be taken seriously as a cultivated person, you were expected to have great dance skills, like knowing how to dance the Pavane. Everyone who was someone or wanted to be someone went to court. Going to court was the source of news in the country. It was the internet of yesteryear. A skilled dancer could advance their social rank through a display of dance skills.

How to dance the Pavane.

Begin by showing reverence by bowing and curtsying to your partner and to the Royalty:
Gentleman bow to the lady; ladies curtsey could signal interest. Placing her flat hand over her heart indicated she was available to more than just dance interested in talking privately or court, and that they were a good girl.  Status was demonstrated in the curtsy and bow. Your eyes were downcast and you would dip lower if you were of lower status than your partner.

Invitation to Dance

You always accept an invitation to dance. Declining to dance could keep you from being invited back. Holding hands during the dance could also send a signal. If then gentleman offered his hand palm up it indicated he was interested in something more like talking or courtship. If the lady was open to his advance she would place her open hand in his palm to palm.

If the gentleman was only interested in dancing then he would place his palm down and the lady would place her palm on the back of his hand.

The lady had two other options. She could turn his hand palm up and place her palm in his indicating she was interested in more. If she was not interested she would turn his palm from up to down and place her hand on top. She was only interested in Dancing. Hands could be clasped if you were married. Hand squeezing would imply intimacy.

Basic step:

Two singles:
Singles can be danced forward, backward or on a diagonal.
(1-Left foot step, 2-lift up to the toe in Releve’ and tap Right foot beside Left foot without weight. Repeat to the 3- Right, 4-lift up to the toe in Releve’ and tap Left foot beside Right foot without weight) – The purpose of the Releve’ was to show off the ladies lovely footwork, and to cause her skirts to billow out.
One double:
(1-Left Foot step, 2-close right foot to left foot, 3- Left foot step, 4-tap Right Foot) This can be repeated on the Right foot when the singles are commenced with the Right foot.

Sequence for a church isle:

Begin with a curtsey and bow to each other for 6 counts.
Two Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the left foot with the lady on the gentleman’s right side.
Pinwheel gentlemen 1  Pavane back ladies forward ( to avoid treading on the train’s on the ladies dresses)
One Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the right foot.
Hand to hand pat-a-cake and circle, face partner hold right to right hand (using left foot) two single facing partner, then a double circling 180 to end in partners place,
Two Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the left foot.
Face and turn, Face partner for two singles, then turn to your left for the double, then face partner for two more singles, and turn to your right for the double.

Repeat dance Sequence:

Repeat in reverse order facing where you came in from Ladies on gentleman’s left side.
Two Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the left foot.
Hand to hand, face partner hold right to right hand (using left foot) two single facing partner, then a double circling 180 to end in partners place,
Two Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the left foot.
Pinwheel gentlemen 1  Pavane back ladies forward ( to avoid treading on the train’s on the ladies dresses)
One Basic Pavane step side by side promenading down the floor, commenced with the right foot.
Curtsy and bow to each other

Song used:
Pavane by the St. Louis Brass Quintet on the Renaissance Faire album

About our film location:
The church we filmed in is Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Parish. This parish was completed on May 12^th, 1912 by Italian immigrant families in Welby Colorado. This beautiful church is located at 2361 East 78th Avenue Denver, CO 80229. We would like to thank Fr. Brian Morrow for allowing us to film in this beautiful location.

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
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Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
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