[MR] A Rare Opportunity for Atlantian Nobility

[Oxford, David]

Fellow Nobles (and Those So Aspiring),

Within our beloved Society, we all strive for the ideals of nobility and courtly
grace and manner (at least most of the time :), but it is an unfortunate fact
that were any of us dropped into the court of any kingdom in period, we would
find ourselves in a lot of trouble, not knowing many of the basics that any
courtier would be expected to be fluent in.  Fortunately, we here in the
beautiful Shire of Isenfir have taken it upon ourselves to protect our fellow
Atlantians from just such a temporal crisis.  On March 15th, Isenfir is proud to
host a day-long workshop (conducted by renowned teacher and scholar Alejandra de
Miera, traveling in from the East Kingdom just for us) on one of the social
aspirant's most important skills -- the art of courtly dance.  WAIT!  At this
very moment, questions and myths about this noble art are quite possibly welling
up in your mind.  Allow me to answer/dispel them...

"Um, what do you mean 'courtly dance'?" - On March 15th we will learn, from a
wonderful teacher, the art of 16th Century Italian dance, the pinnacle of
culture and nobility within our period.  Specifically, Alejandra will be
focusing on the dances of Fabritio Caroso, from his book Il Ballarino (1581).

"Eek! I've heard that's hard - only for experts." - As my granddad used to say,
"pshaw".  Alejandra will be presenting a "from the ground up" workshop, starting
with the assumption that you know right from left and working up from there.
This workshop will be a unique event in that beginners can get in on the ground
floor and learn one of the most beautiful and graceful dance forms of the
Renaissance, while experienced dancers can widen their repertoire and sharpen
their style.  If you still walk in thinking Italian dance is for experts, then
you'll walk out feeling like one!  How cool is that!?

"Italian dance isn't any fun" - Ah, perhaps the greatest myth of all, and a myth
that I'm crusading (that's period, right?) to stamp out, BY HAVING FUN! (who
said crusades had to be hard?).  If you're one of the unfortunate folks who
think Italian dance isn't any fun, it's probably because your exposure to it
involved someone with an inappropriately-placed cork, tightly wedged.  Come to
this workshop, and everyone will be uncorked!  Um, hmmm...  I think that's
enough with that line of metaphors.

In all seriousness, this is a WONDERFUL opportunity to learn something that's
rarely taught in Atlantia, taught by someone who quite literally travels the
country teaching dance.  We are extremely fortunate that she will be coming all
the way from New Haven, CT, to show us the joy and pleasure that dance can
bring.  It may be awhile before such a chance offers itself again, so I urge you
to take this opportunity.  If you're one of the lucky ones who have already
learned the joy of 16th C. Italian dance, come and learn to do it even better!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!  "What!?  An incredible workshop like that, and there's
MORE!?"  Of course!  What would a day-long workshop on dance be without a chance
to use it?  So naturally, the evening will be a dance party in the Italian style
-- a chance to socialize, eat, and dance, enjoying the ambiance of a palatial
party hosted by Isenfir's baron- and baroness-in-residence, Dosso and Dolce.
Come and enjoy their hospitality.

The details for this event, appropriately titled Lezione al Palazzo (Lesson at
the Palace), are included in the event flyer, which is copied below.  It is also
available at http://isenfir.org/lezione.  Once again, I urge anyone who wishes
to further their own noble graces to come and learn some of the finest dancing
from one of the finest teachers, courtesy of your friends in Isenfir.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.  We look forward
to seeing many of you in March!

Bryan Morgan

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                     Lezione al Palazzo
                   (Lesson at the Palace)
                       March 15, 2003
                      Shire of Isenfir