Branle Pinagay

(Pinagay, Pinagay Branle)

(16th century)

Introduction

The Branle Pinagay is an easy circle dance described in Arbeau's Orchésographie (1589).

The Formation

An open or closed circle of dancers (Arbeau mentions both) with hands joined.

Everyone dances the same steps together.

The Dance

This dance is a combination of doubles (side, close trailing foot toward leading foot with weight, side, close trailing foot to leading foot without weight), and kicks (spring onto one foot, kicking the other in front).

Here is the sequence:

Double left
Kick left (by springing onto the right in place)
Double left
Kick left (by springing onto the right in place)
Kick right (by springing onto the left in place)
Kick left (by springing onto the right in place)
Double left
Double right

The timing will become clear when you dance it with the music, which is composed to perfectly match the steps.

The Music

Here is a nice tune for dancing the Branle Pinagay:

Sources

Thoinot Arbeau. (1589). Orchésographie. Lengres.

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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