The Art of Dancing in Seventeenth-century Spain: Juan de Esquivel and His World - Tapa dura

The only known book on dancing that dates from seventeenth-century Spain, Juan de Esquivel Navarro's 'Discursos sobre el arte del danzado' appeared in Seville in 1642. Beyond the dancing that is the main theme of this source, considerable information is revealed about polite society, social hierarchies, and aesthetic values of the period in Spain. The commentary discusses the text as a book, provides information on the context for dancing in seventeenth-century Spain, explores connections to the larger world of Spanish culture, compares this text to related sources, analyzes the dance technique and dance types presented in the 'discursos', and illuminates issues of dance pedagogy evident in the text.