Dance History I: Key Figures, Ritual Elements, and Evolution from Renaissance to Louis XIV

Terpsichore

Means "join in the dance" and was the name of one of the nine Muses.

Apollo

-Was the patron of music, poetry, philosophy, and healing.

-Was associated with light: the light of day and, symbolically, the light of the intellect that drives away barbarism.

Dionysus

-The god of fertility and wine

-Like wine, his divine powers could induce both cheerful merriment and wildness, and many of his worshipers were known to break loose into riotous dances

Academie de Musique et de la Poesie

Founded to revive the poetry, music, and dance of the ancient world.

Academie Royale de Danse

-An association of teachers

-Gave recognition to dance, but folded

-Was founded by Louis XIV in 1661

Academie Royale de Musique

-Now the Paris Opera (The world's oldest ballet company).

-Dancing began to be a profession for women, too

-Founded by King Louis XIV in 1669

Commedia dell'arte

Popular form of drama in which performers had to sing, dance, act, and play a musical instrument (Its characters influenced French comedy).

Orchesographie

-A manual by Thoinot Arbeau-1588.

-Dialogue between Arbeau and his student, Capriol

-Discussed dance, marching, flute, drums, behavior, and grooming

-Dancing at that time was a gentleman's art form

Ballet a Entree

A series of independent scenes ranging from the serious to the fantastical, linked together by a broad general theme.

Ballet Comique de La Reine

-Most important early attempt to create an extended piece of choreography.

-Commissioned by Catherine De Medici for a royal wedding

-Catherine set styles in manners and art

-She also distributed illustrated descriptions of the ballet all over Europe

-No stage: It took place in a ballroom, so the audience sat above

-It was a drama. "Comique referred to drama in general

-Contained recitations and songs, and lasted 6 hours

Nobilta di Dame

-A book by Fabritio Caroso in 1600.

-Contained completely choreographed dances and advice on etiquette and social situations

Tonnelet

A wide hooped skirt worn by men.

Pierre Beauchamps

-A leading ballet master.

-Stressed fundamentals and the 5 feet positions

Ritual Elements in Dance

1.) Sounds: Music, Body Percussion, Vocals.

2.) Body Decorations: Costumes, Masks, Tattoos

3.) Setting: Dances were performed at specific times and places, some in the daylight and others after sunset or at the full moon. Most dances were performed outdoors, near trees, around bonfires, on mountains, and in sacred places, secret locations, and caves.

4.) Fire: Fire was a magical element for early humans and remains so today in many cultures

Louis XIV

-Reigned from 1643 to 1715

-He saw the peak of French court ballet

-His life was a theatrical spectacle

-Known as the "Sun King" (A sun medal was struck at his birth)

-His day-to-day movements were ceremonial

-Art and life were as one to him

How do we know about dance before there was a written history or video?

-Much of the history of dancing is based on oral tradition. Artists and teachers teach their students, who in turn teach their students, and so on for generations

-Archaeologists gather knowledge by studying artifacts and settlements

Ritual

A traditional cluster of actions.

Reasons for ritual dance

Used to cast powerful magic spells to placate and influence gods and spirits.

Types of rituals

Includes Fertility, Initiation, Healing and Funeral, War and Weapon, and Supernatural, Spiritual, or religious.

1st dancing masters

-Set the standards of etiquette

-Domenico of Piacenza, who around 1400 wrote the first surviving European treatise on dancing

-His followers Antonio Cornazano and Guglielmo Ebreo (William the Jew) were often in demand as producers of dances for state occasions

Dance in the Renaissance Era

-Performers were nobles, not professionals

-Amateur in nature

-Ornate, polished versions of ballroom dances, many of which are known today

-These dances were incorporated into ballets

Development of the barre

As dance became more difficult, students held onto ropes or chairs to assist with intricate steps.

Ballroom setting influence

-Prior to the proscenium stage, the audience sat above the performers in halls

-Led to the use of patterns and designs for telling stories

-Metaphor and allegory are often found in shapes

Proscenium theater influence

-Choreography could now emphasize the human figure, not just patterns

-This helped build professional dancers (ballet was now something to be seen by others)

-The proscenium arch separated the seer from the doer

-It also helped with turnout

Reasons for studying dance history

-The more we know, the more we understand, respect, and love dance

-It helps us understand how dance from the past shapes dance today

-It gives us insights into the creative process of choreography

-It helps us see how similar and different we are from our past selves

-It gives insight into the history of politics, economics, philosophy, fashion, and etiquette

-It is tied to the history of art, drama, music, and architecture

Influence of the Roman Empire

-Dance became increasingly divorced from poetry, possibly because in the culturally diverse empire, it could no longer be taken for granted that everyone in the audience spoke the same language.

Medieval guilds influence

-Guilds protected workers, supervised employment conditions, and maintained high standards of craftsmanship.

-Many guilds acquired considerable political power, and some were permitted to hold public celebrations

Categories of dance intent

-Social Dance: to please themselves

-Ritualistic Dance: to please the gods

-Theatrical Dance: to please others

Dance development in France

-Italy was the source of many artistic developments in art, music, and dance

-France looked to Italy to find dancing masters and composers

-Ballet prospered in France due to the splendor of the French court and the admiration for fine manners

-Ballet steps then began to take on French names

-Dance was encouraged by the Jesuit order in France, as opposed to other countries, where the clergy discouraged it

King Louis XIV Part 2

-Helped popularize ballet

-He worked to choose the finest talents of his day to collaborate on ballets

-Brought together some of the finest artists of his time

-Stopped dancing in 1670 due to weight gain in his 30s

-Worked to ensure that ballet would remain a loved art form

-Helped to develop the professional dancer