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The Story of the Fighting Dancers

1990; Edinburgh University Press; Volume: VIII; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1290787

1750-0095

Giannandr poesio, Anthony Brierley,

Theater, Performance, and Music History

In Via de' Serragli, in Florence, near to the Porta Romana, there stands a well-established, high class butcher's shop. A former proprietor named Tramagnini had two or three sons, strong, vital lads, with a passion for gymnastics and fencing. They formed a club for young butchers and tanners, to pursue all forms of physical exercise. This group won acclaim in theatres, at balls and in spectacular pantomimes, staging remarkable fights in which one of the most talented, whirling a sword around his body, would defend himself from four or five assailants. It was not long before they were appearing in all the ballets. For this reason, the name Tramagnini was adopted in other cities by the hybrid performers, half gymnasts and half dancers, who participated in dances by miming; or by making gestures; by lifting up the prima ballerina with their powerful arms, or appearing dressed as retiarii and mirmilloni in Messalina.2 In Amor, for example, the followers of Galerio and the Christians who enter the temple of Venus to form decorous groups are drawn from the local company of the Milanese Tramagnini.3