La Misura di Danzatore

Charter 
La Misura di Danzatore (“The Measure of the Dancer”) is hereby established to further 
the practice of, and research into the dancing arts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The 
Guild is open to all those who practice, teach or are otherwise interested in the art, music, 
history, reconstruction, performance or theory of period dancing styles. 
The purpose of the Guild shall be to encourage the spread of period dance throughout the 
kingdom of Atenveldt. 
To this end, the Guild will endeavour to: 
?	Encourage members to research and instruct in the arts of period dance. 
?	Provide instruction in the theory, history and practice of period dance. 
?	Assist any local group in founding a chapter for itself. 
?	Provide assistance for those households or local groups which want to have 
classes in period dance at events, practices or other similar meetings. 
?	Provide recognition for achievement in the art of period dance. 

Structure: There shall be one head of the Guild. Each local group within the kingdom of 
Atenveldt is encouraged to form their own chapter, each of which shall have their own 
administrative head. 
The administrative head of the Guild shall be known as the Rettore and shall be responsible 
for keeping records of membership and recognition levels achieved, and for providing a 
contact point for members, interested parties and local group officers. The title of Rettore is 
an administrative title only and does not bestow any particular level of recognition with the 
Guild. The Rettore must be of Esperto / Esperta rank or higher. 

In the event of the growth of the Guild, the Rettore may be allowed an administrative 
assistant to aid in the aforementioned duties. 
The Rettore shall be elected by general consensus of the Guild membership. 
The administrative head of a chapter shall be known as the Preside and shall be responsible 
for keeping records of membership and recognition levels achieved; for providing a contact 
point for members, interested parties and local group officers; for notifying the Rettore of 
recognition levels given; and for presenting individual levels of recognition at any official 
SCA meeting (i.e., officers' meeting, baronial court, fighter practice or event). The title of 
Preside is an administrative title only and does not bestow any particular level of 
recognition within the Guild. The Preside may be of any level of recognition, but must at 
least be a member (Iscritto / Iscritta). 
In the event of the growth of the Guild, the Preside may be allowed an administrative 
assistant to aid in the aforementioned duties. 
The Preside shall be elected by general consensus of the chapter membership. 
Levels of Recognition: There shall be five (5) levels of recognition within the Guild. Each 
shall be defined below by its own distinctive criteria. General guidelines are as follows: 
For the purposes of the Guild, the "repertoires" are: 
?	15th century Italian 
?	Basse Dances (15th century French) 
?	16th century Italian 
?	Arbeau (16th century French) 
?	Inns of Court (16th century English) 
?	Playford (17th century English) 
In the instances when a candidate must demonstrate knowledge of a dance for 
the purposes of obtaining the next level of recognition, the demonstration 
must be "cold", that is, not immediately following a teaching of the dance in 
question. 
For the purposes of the Guild, to "know a dance" shall be defined as being able 
to dance said dance without a caller. 

The teaching of a dance for the purposes of obtaining the next level of 
recognition shall be performed at any appropriate dance venue (i.e., local 
dance practice, ball, or event). 
The demonstration or teaching of a dance for the purposes of obtaining the next 
level of recognition must be signed off on by any guild member of Esperto / 
Esperta rank or higher, any one Peer or any local officer (other than the 
candidate) who is present. These signed affidavits must be given to the 
Preside if he/she is not present, or to the Rettore in the absence of a local 
Preside. 
Dances within other repertoires of Western European Renaissance dance will be 
allowed for the candidate's choice dances, provided that adequate and 
sufficient documentation detailing the performance of said dance is presented 
to the Preside prior to the candidate's use of said dance. 

The levels of recognition shall be as follows: 
Iscritto / Iscritta: This shall be the first level of recognition within the Guild and shall be 
open to all those interested in Guild membership who have attended at least one dance 
practice or dance at an event and have participated therein. Anyone interested in 
membership of the Guild should provide his/her mundane name, SCA name and address to 
the local Preside or to the Rettore in the absence of a local Preside. 
Studente / Studentessa: This shall be the second level of recognition within the Guild. The 
requirements for entrance to this level represent the candidate's increased interest in 
learning period dance and shall be defined as: 
knowledge and demonstration of the ability to dance five (5) individual dances from any of 
the repertoires. 
Erudito / Erudita: This shall be the third level of recognition within the Guild. The 
requirements for entrance to this level represent the candidate’s ability to be proficient in 
period dance across different repertoires and shall be defined as:
knowledge and demonstration of the ability to dance and to teach a series of three (3) 
dances from each of three (3) repertoires plus three (3) dances of the candidate’s choice 
from any of the repertoires, which shall comprise a total of twelve (12) dances. 

Esperto / Esperta: This shall be the fourth level of recognition within the Guild. The 
requirements for entrance to this level represent the candidate’s desire to expand his/her 
knowledge in the arts of period dance and to become adept in the field. The requirements 
shall be defined as:
knowledge and demonstration of the ability to dance and teach a series of four (4) dances 
from each of four (4) repertoires plus four (4) dances of the candidate’s choice from any of 
the repertoires, which shall comprise a total of twenty (20) dances; plus,
participation in period dance outside of the local group (i.e., dance practice, dancing at 
another group's event); plus,
an ability to recognize when a candidate has reached a certain level, even those higher than 
Esperto / Esperta. 
Padrone: This shall be the fifth level of recognition within the Guild. The requirements for 
entrance to this level represent the candidate's "ownership" of the field of period dance 
and shall be defined as:
knowledge and demonstration of the ability to dance and teach a series of ten (10) dances 
from one (1) repertory, five (5) dances from each of three (3) other repertories, three (3) 
dances from the remaining two (2) repertoires plus four (4) dances of the candidate’s 
choice from any of the repertoires, which shall comprise a total of thirty-five (35) dances; 
plus,
achievement of recognition by the dance community outside of the local group; plus, 
demonstration of original reconstruction of two (2) dances judged to be of sufficient 
complexity by a panel of three (3) guild members of Esperto / Esperta rank or higher. 
Regalia: 

Each member of the guild shall bear as an indicator of his/her membership a braid of purple, 
blue and black. The attainment of each level of
the guild shall bestow one (1) bell upon the member to be displayed upon his/her braid, up to a 
maximum of five (5) bells for members of
Padrone/Padrona rank. 
The Guild reserves the right to modify the charter in the following cases: 
?	Requirements for levels of recognition are to be adaptable depending upon future 
dance research. Future modifications of requirements, if needed, are to be agreed 
upon by a council comprised of the Rettore and each Preside. 

?	Other dance traditions (i.e., Middle Eastern, Oriental) shall be included in the Guild 
if there is sufficient interest. Requirements for levels of recognition for other 
traditions will be established in consultation with practitioners of these traditions