The Saltare Collegium

Each year, the guild sponsors an event dedicated to teaching dance, both Eurpean and Eastern. It is generally a one-day event with several tracks of classes, ending with a dance revel and hafla in the evening. This is the event to come to to learn new and challenging dances, or to present your innovative reconstructions. There are also plenty of classes suitable for the beginning or intermediate dancer as well. Any group can host the event, which allows the collegium to occur in a different part of the kingdom each year.

Saltare Collegium 2010

Regional Dance Practices

We have recently begun organizing regional dance practices to provide an opportunity for newer dancers and dance teachers to learn from the more experienced dancers in the kingdom. These are unofficial one-day events (i.e. not on the kingdom calendar) focused on basic dances and building step vocabulary.

If you would like to help organize a practice for your region, please email the guild steward.

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The Collegium Has Come And Gone

Posted June 20, 2010 by Lorenzo Petrucci

This year’s Saltare Collegium was a great success, and there are many people without whom it could not have happened. Thanks to the Barony of the South Downs for hosting the event and providing organization, support, and delicious food for us. Also thanks to the members of the Shire of Talmere who helped us secure the site and provided addition signage.

Of course, without the fine teachers, talented musicians, and enthusiastic dancers the day would not have been possible, so we are grateful to all of you who attended and hope to see you again next year!

If you would like to host the Collegium next year, it’s never too soon to start planning for it. Please send any bids or questions to the Guild Steward. The sooner planning begins, the more smoothly things will go.

You don’t have to wait until next year to get your next dance fix, of course. If you need resources to help start or improve your local dance practice, let us know and we can get you what you need. Many good resources can be found through the Saltare website as well. If you would like to host a Regional Dance Practice, we can help you organize that as well.

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On The Qualities Of A Good Partner

Posted May 21, 2010 by Lorenzo Petrucci

A new section has been added to the contest page for this year’s Saltare collegium, discussing what one might do do become a better dance partner.

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Saltare Dance Collegium on June 19th

Posted May 13, 2010 by Lorenzo Petrucci

Only five weeks left until this year’s Saltare Dance Collegium! The class schedule has been posted, and there’s plenty there for everyone to enjoy: 17 teachers, 27 classes, and over 40 hours of instruction on European dance, Eastern dance, and music of both styles. There will also be an afternoon practice session for the musicians and classes on how to teach dance and run a hafla. The evening will feature a European ball and a hafla, both with live music and a tasty shared sideboard prepared by Mistress Serena.

Check out the event website for directions and more information.

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Music At Upcoming Events

Posted April 23, 2010 by Lorenzo Petrucci

From the Minstrels’ Guild:

Greetings, friends!

We had a wonderful complement of live musicians for the White Rose
Ball at TRM’s Thomas and Elisenda’s recent Coronation. If you weren’t
there, you missed a wonderful evening of live music and dance.

Provided enough musicians can attend and participate, the Minstrel’s
Guild plans to have a presence at the following events this spring and
summer:

May 1st: Crown List tourney
June 5th: Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire
June 19th: Saltare Collegium
July 17th: Royal University Meridies (RUM)

We’d love for you to join us. If you have an interest in period
instrumental music, please join the Minstrel’s Guild and get
involved. Players of all instruments and skill levels are welcome.

Our Yahoo group mailing list can be found here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meridianminstrelsgld/?yguid=414812942

We also have a new Facebook group located here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110296309004911

We look forward to playing with you and helping creating a wonderful
atmosphere for those who attend events in our fair kingdom.

Yours in service,
Lady Fiona macLachlan
Guild Steward
Minstrels’ Guild of Meridies