Duel and Dance: Moresca Stage Directions in L'Amor Costante (1536)
(Lisbeth Langston)

L'Amor Costante (1536, first published 1541) by Alessandro Piccolomini is of interest to dance historians because staged fight sequences and dance performances are crucial to the climax of the play. The comedy was written for the celebration of the entrance of Charles V into Siena in 1536, though most likely it was not performed on that occasion. The plot is similar to other comedies of the time, but with unique aspects. The action takes place in Pisa, yet most characters come from Spain and speak either Italian or Spanish. The plot concerns hidden and mistaken identities, young lovers, and angry fathers. At the end, couples are united and antagonists are reconciled.
At the beginning of Act 5, stage directions specify two sword fights or duels. By the end of Act 5, misunderstandings are sorted out and order is restored. Crucial to reconciliation are the stage directions specifying "La Moresca in piotosa col bacio," La Moresca gagliarda," and "Lo Intrecciato," each separated by a few lines of dialog. This poster introduces the comedy and interprets the role of the dances in L'Amor Costante within a wider cultural context.

Lizbeth Langston, Riverside, California, USA:

Lizbeth Langston is Librarian Emerita at the University of California, Riverside. She holds an MA degree in Dance History and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, both from the University of California, Riverside. She dances every week: Western Square dancing, contradance, historical or vintage dance.