Bohemian Lion Enchanted: Italian Cinquecento and Seicento in the Czech Countries
(Katerina Klementova)

A portray of the cultural atmosphere in the Czech Countries of the Renaissance period which has been strongly influenced by the Italian dance culture. Already the dance-style of the Italian quattrocento was brought to this area thanks to rich cultural exchanges of Charles IV. and succeding emperors. The turn of the 16th/17th century can be considered as a „lucky period" for the Italian dance forms being enjoyed at courts and in towns as well. They were brought in by the Czech courtiers as a result of their trips and studies in Italy, simoultaneusly with the significant import of other Italian artists, archictects, writers, composers etc. under the patronage of Rudolf II. Particularly for dance, one of the copies of the Negri´s Nuove Inventioni di Balli (1604) was sent to the Imperial Court Counselor F.G. Trolius à Lessoth. The Prague Copy is maintained in the National Library of Prague up to these days. (Negri himself performed in front of the Emperor Maxmilian II., and later before Rudolf II, who seems to have personally invited him to Prague in order to teach dance at the Imperial court.)
The aforementioned period gave rise to lots of different dance oportunities: in 1555, an allegorical intermezzo in the Italian style was held in Pilsen, in 1659 a Prague performance of Jewish dancers and dancing mastres is known, as well as a pastoral „balletto" of 1662. One of the most famous theatre and dance events in the Italian style performed outside Italy, the „Phasma Dionysiacum Pragense" of 1617, will be shortly described. It´s a unique (and singularly well documented) performance held at the Prague Castle which libretto, scene descriptions, pictures and other documents remianed up to these days.

Katerina Klementova, Prag, Tschechische Republik:

Dancer, teacher and choreographer specialized in the dance of renaissance period. Studied and taught in Czech Republic, Italy, Russia. Works as a cultural researcher by the Ministry of Culture. Member and co-leader of the early dance group Chorea Historica, since 2011 member of the Committee of Early Music Society (CZ). Since 2008 a teacher of the International Summer School of Early Music, Valtice (CZ). In 2007 has founded the Czech branch of the Società di Danza, Italian Society focused on 19th Century Social Dance.