The Presence of Villano Dance in Spanish Historical Sources

The dance called Villano whose name means “man who lives in towns or villages” is widely cited in Spain throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Danced by a single gentleman, he shows an amazing virtuosity through the use of turns, jumps, kicks, stomps and other technical displays. In theatrical sources, there are many references that clarify the concept of this danza or baile according to the popular or courtly way of performing it. On the other hand, the musical compilations collect a significant number of pieces called villano, many of them with texts that sometimes can be replaced by versions a lo divino (that is, intended for religious contexts). Likewise, there is also enough data on how to perform this dance in the main choreographic sources, information that alludes to types of steps, bows, characteristic movements, and even complete choreographies, which shows the repercussion of this dance in the different social classes of Spanish society at that time. Nowadays the villano endures in the traditional music and dance that are still in use in the Iberian Peninsula, constituting a paradigmatic example of a live repertoire transmitted by oral tradition. What does it keep of that villano from previous centuries? Pilar Montoya Chica. Multifaceted artist born in Zaragoza. She commenced her studies of Early Music with J. L. González Uriol achieving the Higher Certificate of Harpsichord and Organ with Honours. Also she graduated in Orchestra Conducting at the Royal School of Music in London. With a grant from the Provincial Council of Zaragoza and later from the Swiss Government, she furthered her studies at the "Schola Cantorum Basiliensis" in Thorough Bass, Chamber Music, Singing, Historical Dance and Baroque Gesture. She studied Harpsichord and Clavichord with I. Wjuniski in Paris, getting the First Prize. Professor of Harpsichord, Historical Dance and Head of Department of Early Music at Conservatorio Superior de Castilla y León, she is working on her Doctoral Thesis "La Danza Teatral en la Corte de Felipe V" under the direction of B. Lolo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) and is invited to give concerts, courses and lectures in Universities, Congresses and other Institutions