Peter Durham researches, teaches, and performs historical dance of Western Europe from the years 1450 through 1651.

Dance Practices

These are evenings sponsored by local SCA groups where social dances from 1450-1650 are taught and enjoyed.

1st Tuesdays at 7pm: Snohomish, WA

3rd Thursdays at 7pm: King County, WA (location moves during summer)

E-mail Peter for more information and directions.

Days of Dance

These annual SCA events combine four hours of instruction in the afternoon with an evening of dancing to live music. The next one is planned for November 2009 in Snohomish County. Watch the Day of Dance page for updates.

Information about past events:
2008 2007 2006A 2005A 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Classes

Peter has prepared and taught a variety of classes providing overviews of dance through this period, focus on particular types of dance, and information about the sources. Classes can be customized to meet the needs of your group.

Past Workshops

29 Jun 2007: Peter taught Introduction to Dance Sources at KWDS 2007 in Seattle. You can watch video of many of the evening dances on the KWDS 2007 media page.

24-25 Jun 2007, 26-27 Jun 2006, 27-28 Jun 2005 and 30 Jun-1 Jul 2004: Peter taught workshops on the Old Measures and on dances from Shakespeare at the Rex McGuinn Shakespeare Conference at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH.

2-4 Jul 2005: Peter taught classes on the Old Measures and Mixed-up Playford at KWDS 5 in Sydney, Australia.

18-19 May 2005: Peter taught workshops on dances from Shakespeare at the Shakespeare Festival at Maranacook Community High School in Readfield, ME.

17 Feb 2005: Peter taught workshops on dances from Shakespeare for students of the Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, CO.

Past Performances

27 Oct 2007: Peter performed with Seattle Early Dance at our eighth annual Costume Ball Fundraiser at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, WA. Watch video of the renaissance and baroque performances.

6 Apr 2006: Peter performed with Seattle Early Dance in Capriole’s Caper, part of the Early Music Guild Early Music Discovery series at Town Hall in Seattle, WA.

20, 21, 28 Jan 2006: Peter was part of the Seattle Early Dance performances with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA as part of the Discover Music series.

29 Oct 2005: Peter performed with Seattle Early Dance at our sixth annual Costume Ball Fundraiser at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, WA.

11 Jun 2005: Peter was part of the Seattle Early Dance performance at the LAUNCH forum at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ballard, part of the Second Saturday Ballard Art Walk.

11-13 Feb 2005: Peter danced the part of a huntsman in the Early Music Guild production of John Blow’s Venus and Adonis, a baroque opera. Performances were at the Falls Theater at ACT in Seattle. Read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer review.

5 Dec 2004: Peter was part of the Seattle Early Dance performance at the Phinney Neighborhood Center Winter Festival.

Known World Dance Symposium

KWDS 2007 was held in Seattle from June 28 – July 1 2007. This event featured three days of workshops, and three evenings of dance. See the event web site for all the details.

CDs by Jouissance

Courtly Dances of Western Europe 1450-1650 contains branles, balli, almans, country dances, and more.

Dances from the Inns of Court London 1570-1675 contains the eight Old Measures plus two more almans.

Pamphlets with instructions for dances are also available.