Performances:
October 6, 2019 with Nash Baroque
An Italian in Paris
Featured at "SF Music Day" produced by InterMusic SF
A Performance of dance and music inspired by the great 18th century danseuse Barbara Campanini featuring reconstructions from Italian dance master Gennaro Magri's 1779 treatise. At the end of the concert many audience members joined us on the stage for a contredanse called "La Gasconne" from the Feuillet collection of dances.
Dancers:
Jennifer Meller
Isabelle Sjasham
Musicians:
Vicki Melin, traverso
Tatiana Senderowicz, theorbo
Farley Pearce, viola da gamba
An Italian in Paris
Featured at "SF Music Day" produced by InterMusic SF
A Performance of dance and music inspired by the great 18th century danseuse Barbara Campanini featuring reconstructions from Italian dance master Gennaro Magri's 1779 treatise. At the end of the concert many audience members joined us on the stage for a contredanse called "La Gasconne" from the Feuillet collection of dances.
Dancers:
Jennifer Meller
Isabelle Sjasham
Musicians:
Vicki Melin, traverso
Tatiana Senderowicz, theorbo
Farley Pearce, viola da gamba
March 2 & 3, 2019 with Nash Baroque
The Dancing Master: 18th century dance and the music of J.S. Bach
A full-length concert of baroque dancing that explores the influence of French dance forms on the music of J.S. Bach. The show was fully costumed and included a baroque dancing lesson for the audience which was really fun!
Dancers:
Justin Coates & Elizabeth DuVall
from The New York Baroque Dance Company
Julie Lawton
Irenie Melin-Gompper
Jennifer Meller
Musicians:
Jennifer Paulino, soprano
Vicki Melin, traverso
David Wilson, violin
Laura Rubenstein-Salzedo, violin
Daria D’Andrea, viola
Katherine Heater, harpsichord
Farley Pearce, cello
The Dancing Master: 18th century dance and the music of J.S. Bach
A full-length concert of baroque dancing that explores the influence of French dance forms on the music of J.S. Bach. The show was fully costumed and included a baroque dancing lesson for the audience which was really fun!
Dancers:
Justin Coates & Elizabeth DuVall
from The New York Baroque Dance Company
Julie Lawton
Irenie Melin-Gompper
Jennifer Meller
Musicians:
Jennifer Paulino, soprano
Vicki Melin, traverso
David Wilson, violin
Laura Rubenstein-Salzedo, violin
Daria D’Andrea, viola
Katherine Heater, harpsichord
Farley Pearce, cello
December 16, 2018 with Sing! Napa Valley Choir
A Day for Dancing
An evening of holiday music with Sing! Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Children's Chorus. The second half of the program featured a presentation of the full choral piece "A Day for Dancing" by Lloyd Pfautsch with original modern choreography by San Francisco Renaissance Dancers.
Dancers: Isabelle Sjasham, Kimberly Holt, Jennifer Meller
A Day for Dancing
An evening of holiday music with Sing! Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Children's Chorus. The second half of the program featured a presentation of the full choral piece "A Day for Dancing" by Lloyd Pfautsch with original modern choreography by San Francisco Renaissance Dancers.
Dancers: Isabelle Sjasham, Kimberly Holt, Jennifer Meller
September 29, 2018
Versailles: American Bach Soloists Gala
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with special guests Carlos Venturo and Joseph Copely, performed 18th century contredanses with violinist Gail Hernandez Rosa. What a beautiful event and we were honored to have been asked to participate and provide some 18th century French atmosphere. After the concert, so many guests came to dance with us we barely had enough room to accommodate them all.
Versailles: American Bach Soloists Gala
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with special guests Carlos Venturo and Joseph Copely, performed 18th century contredanses with violinist Gail Hernandez Rosa. What a beautiful event and we were honored to have been asked to participate and provide some 18th century French atmosphere. After the concert, so many guests came to dance with us we barely had enough room to accommodate them all.
June 10, 2018 : 1:00pm - with Nash Baroque Ensemble
The Dancing Master; Solo Soprano Cantatas of J.S. Bach and French Dance of the 18th Century
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with special guest Carlos Venturo, artistic director of Dance Through Time. Costumes provided by Dance Through Time. Musical Director Vicki Melin of Nash Baroque Ensemble. Part of the 2018 Berkeley Fringe Festival.
October 28, 2017 : 7:30pm - with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Halloween Gala
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with members of the Guild of St. George in dancing to live music by Broceliande with the help of dance music supplied by New Queen's Ha'Penny Consort.
We performed and taught popular and fun Renaissance dances after a concert of spooky organ music and singing by the San Francisco Renaissance Voices.
August 2017 - with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Kaveri Seth, guest choreographer
Ordo Virtutum
San Francisco Renaissance Voices' acclaimed East-Indian infused production ("Hildegard's music rang out anew," ... Los Angeles Times) of the rarely-performed work, Ordo Virtutum (The Play of the Virtues) by the medieval mystic nun Hildegard von Bingen - returns! Hildegard's only full length work, it is one of the earliest extant liturgical musical dramas that provided the basis for the art form we now know as opera. Ordo Virtutum tells the story of the challenges of The Human Soul (Anime) as she is guided by The Virtues led by their queen Humility, to obtain wholeness of the spirit.
guest artists:
Deepak Ram, bansuri master
Diana Rowan, Celtic harper
Todd Jolly, percussionist
March 2017 with Marin Baroque
Welcome to All Pleasures
A festival for the senses: music, dance, costumes, and also wine and delightful delicacies. Music by Henry Purcell: "Come Ye Sons of Art", "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day", "Welcome to All Pleasures", Orchestral Suite from "The fairy Queen". Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here - Act I
View a video here - Act II
September 2016 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Devoted Daughters & Weird Sisters
Featuring Carissimi's "Jepthe" with MUSA Baroque Instrumental Ensemble, Derek Tam, Director. Also Ariel's songs from "The Tempest", songs from "Much Ado About Nothing", Ophelia's songs from "Hamlet" and music inspired by "Midsummer Night's Dream"
June 2015 with Marin Baroque
Dido & Aeneas
By Henry Purcell. Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here
March 2015 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Merrie Olde England : Country Dances & Madrigals
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers performed English country dances and a quintet of singers performed English madrigals including selections from The San Francisco Renaissance Voices' 2007 performance "The Regina Monologues," accompanied by guest artists Patrice Haan, Celtic harp, Amy Haltom, violin and Geneva Harrison, percussion.
June 2014 with Marin Baroque
Venus & Adonis
John Blow's Pastorale. Earliest surviving English opera in one Prologue and three Acts. Libretto inspired by Ovid's "Metamorphosis". Premiered in 1683 at the court of King Charles II. Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here
February 2014
Klezmer-Baroque!
Our first full-length concert featuring period dance as well as traditional Jewish dances with student dancers from the Tikvah School of Dance. Accompaniment was provided by the Sunset Baroque Ensemble and Veretski Pass Klezmer ensemble.
June 2013 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Ludus Danielis (The Play of Daniel)
The Opera Early & Ancient mini-series returned featuring this Medieval gem. We were joined by period instrumentalists including Daria D'Andrea, vielle, Margaret Davis, recorders and harp, Peggy Murray, shawm, doucaine, dulcians and recorders, Tom Chandler, oud, Adam Cockerham, theorbo and Todd Jolly, percussion with Shelley Lynn Johnson, narrator.
January 2012 - 2017 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Annual Boar's Head Festival and Mid-Winter Gala
We ended each holiday season with a celebration of Twelfth Night and the music of Medieval through contemporary England. After each concert our audiences enjoyed a feast featuring wassail, king's cake and roast pork and vegetable pies.
June 2012 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Berkeley International Festival & Exhibition of Early Music - Concert from the Legendary Court of Kangxi
We performed with guest artists The San Francisco Chinese Music Ensemble (Terry Luk, director), Adam Cockerham, theorbo and Esther Lam, harpsichord. Charles d’Ambleville/Messe des Jesuites a Pekin with additional music by Viadana, Victoria and others, and traditional Chinese music.
August 2011 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Cupid & Death
The Music of Love: San Francisco Renaissance Voices' Opera Early & Ancient mini-series returned featuring Cupid & Death by Matthew Locke (c1621-1677) and Christopher Gibbons (1615-1676) and we were joined by period chamber orchestra. This rarely performed work received its first formal premiere on March 26, 1653 as an entertainment for the Portuguese ambassador to Great Britain.
The Dancing Master; Solo Soprano Cantatas of J.S. Bach and French Dance of the 18th Century
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with special guest Carlos Venturo, artistic director of Dance Through Time. Costumes provided by Dance Through Time. Musical Director Vicki Melin of Nash Baroque Ensemble. Part of the 2018 Berkeley Fringe Festival.
October 28, 2017 : 7:30pm - with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Halloween Gala
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers with members of the Guild of St. George in dancing to live music by Broceliande with the help of dance music supplied by New Queen's Ha'Penny Consort.
We performed and taught popular and fun Renaissance dances after a concert of spooky organ music and singing by the San Francisco Renaissance Voices.
August 2017 - with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Kaveri Seth, guest choreographer
Ordo Virtutum
San Francisco Renaissance Voices' acclaimed East-Indian infused production ("Hildegard's music rang out anew," ... Los Angeles Times) of the rarely-performed work, Ordo Virtutum (The Play of the Virtues) by the medieval mystic nun Hildegard von Bingen - returns! Hildegard's only full length work, it is one of the earliest extant liturgical musical dramas that provided the basis for the art form we now know as opera. Ordo Virtutum tells the story of the challenges of The Human Soul (Anime) as she is guided by The Virtues led by their queen Humility, to obtain wholeness of the spirit.
guest artists:
Deepak Ram, bansuri master
Diana Rowan, Celtic harper
Todd Jolly, percussionist
March 2017 with Marin Baroque
Welcome to All Pleasures
A festival for the senses: music, dance, costumes, and also wine and delightful delicacies. Music by Henry Purcell: "Come Ye Sons of Art", "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day", "Welcome to All Pleasures", Orchestral Suite from "The fairy Queen". Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here - Act I
View a video here - Act II
September 2016 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Devoted Daughters & Weird Sisters
Featuring Carissimi's "Jepthe" with MUSA Baroque Instrumental Ensemble, Derek Tam, Director. Also Ariel's songs from "The Tempest", songs from "Much Ado About Nothing", Ophelia's songs from "Hamlet" and music inspired by "Midsummer Night's Dream"
June 2015 with Marin Baroque
Dido & Aeneas
By Henry Purcell. Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here
March 2015 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Merrie Olde England : Country Dances & Madrigals
San Francisco Renaissance Dancers performed English country dances and a quintet of singers performed English madrigals including selections from The San Francisco Renaissance Voices' 2007 performance "The Regina Monologues," accompanied by guest artists Patrice Haan, Celtic harp, Amy Haltom, violin and Geneva Harrison, percussion.
June 2014 with Marin Baroque
Venus & Adonis
John Blow's Pastorale. Earliest surviving English opera in one Prologue and three Acts. Libretto inspired by Ovid's "Metamorphosis". Premiered in 1683 at the court of King Charles II. Stage Director: Marla Volovna. Music Director and Conductor: Daniel Canosa
View a video here
February 2014
Klezmer-Baroque!
Our first full-length concert featuring period dance as well as traditional Jewish dances with student dancers from the Tikvah School of Dance. Accompaniment was provided by the Sunset Baroque Ensemble and Veretski Pass Klezmer ensemble.
June 2013 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Ludus Danielis (The Play of Daniel)
The Opera Early & Ancient mini-series returned featuring this Medieval gem. We were joined by period instrumentalists including Daria D'Andrea, vielle, Margaret Davis, recorders and harp, Peggy Murray, shawm, doucaine, dulcians and recorders, Tom Chandler, oud, Adam Cockerham, theorbo and Todd Jolly, percussion with Shelley Lynn Johnson, narrator.
January 2012 - 2017 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Annual Boar's Head Festival and Mid-Winter Gala
We ended each holiday season with a celebration of Twelfth Night and the music of Medieval through contemporary England. After each concert our audiences enjoyed a feast featuring wassail, king's cake and roast pork and vegetable pies.
June 2012 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Berkeley International Festival & Exhibition of Early Music - Concert from the Legendary Court of Kangxi
We performed with guest artists The San Francisco Chinese Music Ensemble (Terry Luk, director), Adam Cockerham, theorbo and Esther Lam, harpsichord. Charles d’Ambleville/Messe des Jesuites a Pekin with additional music by Viadana, Victoria and others, and traditional Chinese music.
August 2011 with San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Cupid & Death
The Music of Love: San Francisco Renaissance Voices' Opera Early & Ancient mini-series returned featuring Cupid & Death by Matthew Locke (c1621-1677) and Christopher Gibbons (1615-1676) and we were joined by period chamber orchestra. This rarely performed work received its first formal premiere on March 26, 1653 as an entertainment for the Portuguese ambassador to Great Britain.
Classes / Workshops:
Current ongoing:
Monthly Baroque Dance Class: Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
Next class: TBA - classes currently suspended due to COVID-19
See the Workshops page for more information
January 2020 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
FREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Play and Dance to Bach
Presented by the Junior Bach Festival and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale
Saturday, January 11
Crowden Music Center
1475 Rose St, Berkeley, CA 94702
1:00 - 3:15 p.m.
February 2017 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Master Class: Baroque Music and Dance
Master Class in Baroque Music and Dance with members of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra at SF Community Music Center
October 2015 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Master Class: Baroque Music and Dance
SF Renaissance Dancers collaborated with Lisa Grodin, Director of Education for the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra to bring a workshop about Baroque music and dance to schools and institutions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area:
Monthly Baroque Dance Class: Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
Next class: TBA - classes currently suspended due to COVID-19
See the Workshops page for more information
January 2020 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
FREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Play and Dance to Bach
Presented by the Junior Bach Festival and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale
Saturday, January 11
Crowden Music Center
1475 Rose St, Berkeley, CA 94702
1:00 - 3:15 p.m.
February 2017 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Master Class: Baroque Music and Dance
Master Class in Baroque Music and Dance with members of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra at SF Community Music Center
October 2015 - with members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Master Class: Baroque Music and Dance
SF Renaissance Dancers collaborated with Lisa Grodin, Director of Education for the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra to bring a workshop about Baroque music and dance to schools and institutions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area:
- Community School of Music and Arts, Mountain View, CA
- Ohlone Elementary School, Palo Alto, CA
- Chinese American International School, San Francisco, CA
- Vintage Golden Gate, San Francisco, CA
- Edna Brewer Middle School, Oakland, CA
- Anthony W. Ochoa Middle School, Hayward, CA