This is the original charter of the Dance Guild of Saltare. There are a lot of things listed below that are “dated”. As such, the charter should be revised to a more modernized version.
Saltare Charter
A Kingdom-Wide Dance Guild of Meridies
Name: The name of the Guild shall be Saltare, Latin for “to dance.”
Purpose: The purpose of the Guild shall be to promote the learning and teaching of Medieval, Renaissance, Ethnic, and SCA dances throughout the Kingdom of Meridies.
Goals: The goals for the Guild at the time of chartering shall be five-fold:
- To facilitate communication between existing local dance guilds, and to assist any local group in founding a dance guild for itself.
- To assist any local group which wants to have dance classes, either at meetings or events.
- To maintain a roster of dance teachers throughout the Kingdom.
- To produce and keep current a Kingdom-wide dance manual and dance tape.
- To encourage widespread teaching and research of Medieval, Renaissance, Ethnic, and SCA dances.
Membership: Any person in the SCA who is interested in dance may become a member of Saltare. There shall be four types, or levels, of members: Guild Member, Inceptor, Journeyman, and Magister of the Dance.
Guild Member
A Guild Member is a person who is interested in Medieval, Renaissance, Ethnic, and/or SCA dances. The Guild Member is expected to know, or to learn: basic dance etiquette, basic dance steps for branles and pavans, and one or two dances known generally throughout Meridies. One becomes a Guild Member by sending his/her SCA and mundane name and address to the Guild Proctor, expressing interest. The Guild Member will be informed of Saltare’s activities and projects.
Inceptor
An Inceptor is a member of the Guild who meets the following standards:
- Knowledge of basic dance etiquette
- Ability to teach and lead at least five dances to a group of people. The Inceptor is required to know the names of the dances and the terminology of the steps used in those dances.
- The Inceptor is required to be familiar with some background information on each dance.
- Wear appropriate period attire while teaching dance.
- Practice courtly and chivalrous behavior.
A person attains the level of Inceptor upon completion of the following:
- A letter with a list off dances taught is sent to the Guild Proctor.
- The letter should state where these various dance were taught – local meeting, event, local dance guild, etc.
- The letter must be witnessed by any one of the following persons: local Seneschal, local Minister of Arts, local dance guild head, or a Journeyman or Magister of the Dance of Saltare.
The Inceptor’s name is then added to the roster of dance teachers in Meridies.
Journeyman
A Journeyman is a member of the Guild who meets the following standards:
- Knowledge of basic dance etiquette.
- Ability to teach and lead at least ten dances to a group of people. The Journeyman is required to know the names of each dance and the terminology of the steps in each dance, and background information on each dance (i.e., type of dance, country of origin, approximate date of each dance).
- Wear appropriate period attire while teaching dance.
- Practice courtly and chivalrous behavior.
A person attains the level of Journeyman upon completion of the following:
- A letter with a list off dances taught is sent to the Guild Proctor.
- The letter should state where these various dance were taught – local meeting, event, local dance guild, etc.
- The letter must be witnessed by any one of the following persons: local Seneschal, local Minister of Arts, local dance guild head.
- The letter must be signed and endorsed by either a Journeyman or Magister of the Dance of the Guild. The signature stands as a statement that the person is judged to be proficient in the areas of teaching, knowledge, costume, and manner.
The Journeyman’s name is then added to the roster of Journeyman dance teachers in Meridies.
Magister of the Dance
A Magister of the Dance is a member of the Guild who meets the following standards:
- Knowledge of basic dance etiquette.
- Ability to teach and lead at least twenty dances to a group of people. The Magister is required to know the names of each dance and the terminology of the steps in each dance, and background information on each dance (i.e., type of dance, country of origin, approximate date of each dance).
- Must wear appropriate period attire while teaching dance.
- Must practice courtly and chivalrous behavior.
A person attains the level of Magister of the Dance upon completion of the following:
- A letter with a list off dances taught is sent to the Guild Proctor.
- The letter should state where these various dance were taught – local meeting, event, local dance guild, etc.
- The letter should state at which events he/she was in charge of the dancing.
- The letter must be signed and endorsed for each event by either: local Seneschal, local Minister of Arts, or local dance guild head.
- The letter must be signed and endorsed by a Magister of the dance of the Guild. The signature stands as a statement that the person is judged to be proficient in the areas of teaching, knowledge, costume, and manner.
The Magister’s name is then added to the roster of Magisters of the Dance in the Kingdom of Meridies.
Guild Proctor
The person in charge of the Guild shall be called the Guild Proctor. The Proctor’s duties are as follows:
- To maintain a current roster of dance teachers in the Kingdom of Meridies.
- To assist groups in locating teachers for dance classes at events, local meetings, revels, etc.
- To assist groups who wish to start local dance guilds.
- To keep informed on the progress, projects, and activities of local guilds (either through formal reports or informal correspondence).
- To report to the KMOA on the progress, projects, and activities of both Saltare and local dance guilds.
- To produce and/or maintain a Kingdom-wide dance manual and accompanying dance tape.
- The Guild Proctor may appoint deputies as needed.
- The Proctor is chosen by the general consensus of the Journeyman and Magisters of the Dance of the Guild, with the approval of the Crown. The vote is counted at a designated official event. Proxy votes are recognized.
Regalia: The colors of the Guild shall be purple, gold, and red.
All Guild members are encouraged to wear wrist bells while dancing or teaching dance. (Note: This in NO way is meant to prevent any non-member of the Guild from the wearing of wrist bells.)
- Inceptors shall wear wrist bells attached to purple ribbons.
- Journeyman shall wear wrist bells attached to purple and gold ribbons.
- Magisters of the dance shall wear wrist bells attached to purple, gold and red ribbons.
Submitted to Their Royal Majesties Orlando and Micheila this 13th day of April, A.S. XX, by the Charter Members of Saltare,
- Lady Gisela von Edgemond, called Tipperith
- Lord Addison Rowland Carrick
- Mistress Isolde die Graue
- Lady Danica of Harveston Vale
- Lord Edward of Aristallion
- Lady Esmeralda of Kimaden
- Lady Elspeth of Harilow
- David of Sicily
- Lady Katrina of Iron Mountain