The article examines specific features of historical dance language and everyday dance language, as well as outlines the processes of form- and meaning-generation. The term "pre-stage dance" is introduced to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this type of dance expression. The paper analyses the early historical stages of pre-stage dance development, focusing on Medieval courtly culture and the Renaissance. The study reveals that before-stage, pre-stage and stage types of dance are interrelated in terms of the composition and construction of their formal structures. The research identifies three stages: early accumulation of language material through borrowing and rethinking forms from folk (pre-stage) dance; systematization of this material and the onset of constructing a unique system of expression; and the search for a composition using the language of pre-stage dance.
Keywords:
historical dance, pre-stage dance, the language of dance, shaping in dance, courtly culture, Renaissance culture, Medieval dance, court culture, Renaissance dance, theatrical performances and celebrations
