The Renaissance
The Performing Arts in the Renaissance
The Renaissance is a period when European societies underwent fundamental changes, and the performing arts were essential as a medium to communicate and explain these changes. For example, the theatre became a physical location built for a specific purpose where anyone could attend a performance. This allowed for the development of acting, singing, and dancing as a profession, and the rise of performing arts not seen in ancient Greece and Rome, such as ballet and the masquerade. The new art forms reflected changes in how society was organized. Furthermore, with the expansion of performing arts into these new realms, women began to break through the barrier that had excluded them from the stage since ancient times. Theatre was also important in politics, as the exposure to stories and plots that broke with biblical tradition helped Elizabeth of England rule effectively in very turbulent times. Overall, the performing arts are an essential part of the Renaissance, and capture the essence of the era that laid the foundations for the modern world we know today.
During the Renaissance buildings were constructed specifically for the purpose of presenting performances, which had not been done since Greek and Roman times. One of the first such structures was built in 1576 and was called “The Theatre”.The establishment of a permanent location specifically built for plays helped to elevate actors’ status in society, which had been just slightly above beggars (Orgel 2). During Renaissance actors went from being amateurs to becoming recognized professionals. The buildings also helped to make the theatre a more democratic place. Because they were commercial enterprises, the building was constructed to have the most people pay to enjoy the show as possible.
As the period progressed, the availability of an audience and a space in which to perform led to the creation of new forms of performing art. These new or restructured art forms reflected the changes occurring in society. The ballet originated in 1581 with Domenico's De Arte Saltandi ed Choreas Ducendi, (On the Art of Dancing and Conducting Dances). Domenico da Piacenza chose the word ballo instead of danza, both of which mean "dance" in Italian, and the dances he choreographed became known as baletti or balli.
The Commedia dell’Arte begin in Italy in mid XIV century and quickly spread around Europe. Professional actors would play the same character for a lifetime and, different from the other theatrical styles, there was the idea of a plot but no script. This performing art was more accessible to the common people. “The improvvisa was developed in opposition to the ‘erudite comedy’ or ‘scripted comedy’ of the Renaissance, to whose characters and plots it gave a popular touch, above all because of the need of its professional actors to be understood by a wide public”. Another performing art that flourished during Renaissance in Italy is the opera. Dafne, by Jacopo Peri, is considered the first work of opera since evolving from the performances during the middle ages.
Masquerades were another popular form of entertainment in the Renaissance. Because they were held at the court and high society, and not open to the general public, masquerades started allowing women to participate in the performance.
Performance art in the Renaissance also played an important role in helping to establish and justify Queen Elizabeth’s rule. The “Virgin Queen”, as she was called, “was a woman crowned when the Bible said women should not rule”. She came to power after a tumultuous time when her father had broken away from the Catholic Church and established the separate Church of England. The whole of English society was experiencing shocks at the changes that were occurring because of the Renaissance. In this light, plays, dramas, and masquerades “were not frivolous games or ornaments. They were the expression of a transition period trying to articulate its own meaning to itself.” Elizabeth herself knew the importance of performance when she said, “Princes, you know, stand upon stages so that their actions are viewed and beheld of all men”. This shows how plays had become important in politics, and it is true that playwrights often inserted unveiled political views into the characters’ speeches. For example, William Shakespeare in Hamlet mirrors the political situation in England to point out corruption and abuse of power.
One of the most common ways we celebrate the Renaissance today is by remembering Shakespeare, and it is no coincidence that he was integral to the performance arts revolution that characterized the period. By creating the theatre as an independent institution, bringing us the ballet and opera as an art form, and starting the transition through which eventually democracy and equal right were established for all sexes and races, the performing arts during the Renaissance were an integral part of European, and world, history.
