Domenico da Piacenza (c. 1400 – c. 1470), also known as Domenico da Ferrara,^[1] was an Italian Renaissance dancing master. He became a very popular teacher with his students – most notably Antonio Cornazzano and Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro – who both later became successful dance masters. At a time between 1452 and 1463, he received the Order of the Golden Spur.

Biography

Piacenza was born in Piacenza, Northern Italy in around 1400,^[2] and was the first known dancing master to have left published dance instructions.^[3] He began teaching dance in around 1440 and is believed to have taught elements of dramatic mime and elaborate dance.^[2] He taught future dance masters Antonio Cornazzano and Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro.^[4]

He moved from Piacenza to Ferrara during Leonello d'Este's tenure as marquis of the city between 1441 and 1450.^[5] Between 1452 and 1463 Piacenza received the Order of the Golden Spur, and is believed to have been knighted by Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. In April 1455 he composed a dance for the wedding between Tristano Sforza and Niccolò III d'Este's illegitimate daughter Beatrice.^[4]

In late 1455 he choreographed dances for the wedding between Ippolita Maria Sforza and Alfonso II.^[4] In the 1450s or 1460s^[2] he published De arte saltandi et choreas ducendi about dancing and choreography, the oldest surviving European guide on dancing.^[3] It gives instructions on various dances and also outlines what is required to be a good dancer.^[2] He identified that successful dance consisted of many techniques: an understanding of musical tempos, knowledge of the prescribed steps, manners, agility, the ability to moderate one's movements, overall control of the body, and speed.^[4] Piacenza died in around 1470 in Ferrara, Northern Italy.^[2]