Mastro da Ballo

The work unfolds as a practical guide for anyone eager to master the elegant court dances of early sixteenth‑century Italy. Organized into three treatises, it begins with a concise table of rules, mutanze and ballets, then moves through a second table that sketches the essential figures a couple must know. Although the original manuscript intended to accompany illustrations, the transcribed version supplies clear explanations in plain language, expanding every abbreviated term.

Readers will find step‑by‑step instructions for everything from simple alzata de piedi to intricate capriolas, cadenzas and passaggi in volta. The manual also advises gentlemen on proper posture and ladies on the graceful movements required to keep the dance flowing. With its systematic layout and attention to both technique and social conduct, the text offers a vivid window into the choreography and courtly manners that defined the period’s ballroom culture.