The Creative Contessa Blog

"Every savage can dance", Darcy famously quips in Jane Austen's masterpiece, "Pride & Prejudice". Such snobbish protests notwithstanding, moving to music has probably been part of humanity's interactions since we first figured out how to beat a stick against a log in a set rhythm, and in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, dance went from being a ceremonial activity to a social one, in which unmarried men and women intermixed and engaged in salacious behavior such as holding hands. In fact, the concept of couple's dancing seems to have been invented in the late 14th century, with certain polities even...

Before the era of social media, dance used to be the only way in which strangers could engage, flirt and perhaps even court in a socially acceptable environment. And in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, practice makes perfect!

The details of daily life are what fascinate me about the past and constitute the primary driver behind my near obsession with history. Clothing plays a major role in all of our daily lives now, but in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, fashion served a greater function than merely clothing our bodies and protecting us from the elements: it acted as the visible symbol of a family's "honor" and reputation, displaying their intangible wealth and power in a way that was extremely tangible. So here is a video that illustrates all of these symbolic layers from the skin out, specifically for...

Rostiboli Gioioso is a highly flirtatious, sexily elegant dance from the 15th century that clearly depicts the ritual of courtship. And now you can learn the dance for yourself!

Here is a medieval/Renaissance dance footwork drills class - basically a medieval total body workout for strength, dexterity and stamina!

Across the millennia, humans have sought ways to beautify themselves. Lacking the glorious plumage or fur of some of our fellow creatures, we have turned to our own hands to compensate for our dearth of natural splendor to create fabrics and trims. Here is a technique that dates back thousands of years!