Lesson 2

France

_ became the forerunner in dance during the late 16th and 17th Centuries (modern history)

Catherine de Medici’s; Le Ballet-Comique de la Reine in 1581

_ transfer to France & the production of _, influence on dance began to transfer from the Italian court to the French court.

late 16th and 17th Centuries (modern history)

Dancers & personalities exerted remarkable influence as the builders of ballet.

Louis XIII & Louis XIV

With _, dance increased as a court amusement & during the latter’s reign, it transformed into professional entertainment.

late 16th and 17th Centuries (modern history)

Male dancers played both male & female roles in court ballets.

Mila La Fontaine

became the first female professional dancer in 1681.

Mila La Fontaine

She performed in Le Triomphe de L’Amour, the first ballet in which women took part. She was hailed as queen of the dance after the performance.

Ballet Royal de la Nuit (1653)

In this ballet, Louis the XIV portrayed the Sun King, after which he became known by that name.

Le Bourgeios Gentilhomme (1670)

This is Moliere’s comedy play, which featured music & dance sequences.

Le Triomphe de L’Amour (1681)

A ballet created by Jean-Baptiste Lully, in which the first female dancers appeared.

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Le Triomphe de L’Amour (1681) - A ballet created by _, in which the first female dancers appeared.

18th Century

As the century continued, dance in ballroom and in theatrical performance began to separate technically and aesthetically.

18th Century

French & English theaters grew as major dance centers.

18th Century

Austria and Germany reduced their centers in court theaters.

18th Century

Both male & female dancers were equal opportunity to take lead roles rather than just character parts.

18th Century

Male dancers or danseurs nobles tool the leading roles in ballets.

18th Century

Female dancers explored their techniques & skills beyond the court dances by enhancing their movement with beats, turns, & leg extensions.

18th Century

Dancers used the 5 feet positions of the feet, both on the stage & in the ballroom.

18th Century

Mythology, fantasy, realism, & humanism were the common themes showcased in ballets.

19th Century

During the Romantic era, the female dancers took the lead roles in ballet performances. They appeared as winged, unearthly beings such as nymphs & fairies.

19th Century

Male dancers took the supporting roles in romantic ballets, but offstage they continued as dance masters & arranged the ballets.

19th Century

Both males & females must follow the code of etiquette when attending the ball or they will not be admitted. Instructions & manuals about manners were developed by the dance masters.

Cotillion

a forerunner of the American square dance, had many figures that required practice by the group. The complexity of the dance made it a special performance at a ball or a presentation by a dance master at a recital hall.

Polonaise

opened a court ball involved partners dancing side by side behind a lead couple & moving through various choral figures. Performed in triple time it had one step that was repeated throughout the dance.

Quadrille

was performed in a stately manner and, later on, in an accelerated one

waltz

Many scholars believe that _ was derived from the German landler & other Southern German folk dances. It was performed in triple time by single couples in close embrace & featured wild hopping, stamping, & throwing of the female partner into the air.

polka

may have originated in Poland or the former Czechoslovakia, was a popular social dance in the first part of the century. This half step dance in 2/4 time was introduced in the ballrooms of Prague in the 1830s. Dancing masters brought it to Paris and it reached the stage in 1840.