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Dansa

World Traditional Verse Forms

A dansa, also spelt dança, was an Old Occitan form of lyric poetry developed in the late thirteenth century among the troubadours. It is related to the English term "dance" and was often accompanied by dancing. A closely related form, the balada or balaresc, had a more complex structure, and is related to the ballade but unrelated to the ballad. Both terms derive from Occitan words for "to dance": dansar and balar/ballar.

Facts
Place of Origin
Occitania, late thirteenth century, among the troubadours 1
Defining Trait
Begins with a respos whose rhyme scheme matches each subsequent stanza; accompanied by dancing 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Sources
1. Dansa - Wikipedia
  • Introduction
    was an Old Occitan form of lyric poetry developed in the late thirteenth century among the troubadours.
  • Structure
    A dansa begins with a respos of one or two lines, whose rhyme scheme matches that of the first line or two of each subsequent stanza.
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