The influence of the Italian style on the Polish dance art in the 16th and 17th century
(Romana Agnel)
The greatest deal of valid information on the Italian influence on the Polish royal court dates back to Queen Bona Sforza's arrival at the Wawel. Greatly educated and art-savvy, this young Bari princess brought a large number of artists specializing in various fields of art to the Polish court. For many years of her reign in Krakow, Bona changed the face of the court by introducing Italian fashion and customs. Recognizing the privileged position of dance in the Italian court society and based on historical records, it can be argued that Queen Bona was also a fine dancer, and one surrounded by dance masters, among other artists in the her retinue. In 1518, on her wedding day, she amazed King Sigismund I the Old by presenting herself as a dancer and performing an Italian dance in a duet with one of her maid servants.
It is since Bona's rule that a great popularity for fancy mask balls, also called masquerades, abounding in elements of ballet performances, could be observed. Considering all-around Italian influences prevalent at the Wawel Court and through the analysis of dance music notations from Jan of Lublin's organ tablature, it can be said that court dances performed in this period were mainly in the Italian style.
The popularity of masquerades spread to dukes' and magnates' courts all around Poland. Dance was also an element of the king's successor's, Sigismund August's, education.
The research poster comprises information on the influence of the Italian style on the Polish dance art and, among others, dance master Sylwester whose name was discovered by the author in the king's expense register.
Romana Agnel, Cracovia, Polen:
Romana Agnel is a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher, art historian, and founder of Cracovia Danza, the only professional Court Ballet in Poland, where she is Executive and Artistic Director. She is an alumna of the Community Ballet School in Krakow and she completed a degree in Art History at the Sorbonne in Paris. She specializes in characteristic and historical dance. She is also a dancer of the Bharata Natyam classical Indian dance. She is a lecturer and author of several publications on the subject of dance history.
