The History of Baroque Dance

The baroque dance began at the court at Versailles.

While there were several forms of social and theatrical dance in the world during the baroque time period, baroque dance is the term that is used to reference the French noble dance style of the 17th and 18th centuries. Developed by the great Louis XIV, the dance style influenced ballroom dances and theaters in Europe.

History

The origins of the baroque dance are found in the court at Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV of France in the 1600s. The art of ballet was born under his rule, thanks to his passion for dance. Because of Louis XIV, balls, operas and the baroque dance played a pivotal role in the lifestyle at Versailles.

Louis XIV

Louis' connection with the dance was personal. When he took the throne at a young age, according to Labelldanse.com, "his authority was opposed by a faction of nobles in a series of uprisings known as the 'Frondes'". After the Second Fronde was conquered, "Cardinal Mazarin (who ruled through the regent, Louis' mother, Anne of Austria)" directed a ballet called "Le Ballet de la Nuit." In the la Nuit, Louis danced the main role of the Rising Sun. While Louis acted In character as the sun, he warned that anyone who chose to oppose his power "would soon feel his heat." This threat was directed towards the nobles, reminding them that their opposition to the royal authority would not be tolerated.

Dance as a Weapon

After Louis had felt his power as the Rising Sun character, he employed dance with the mindset of it being used as a weapon of State. Due to his enthusiasm for dance, the establishment of the Academie Royale de la Danse emerged in 1661. From then on, other ballets and operas that were composed by other directors such as J.B. Lully, praised Louis as "the wisest, most powerful and benevolent ruler in Christendom."

The Baroque Dance Spreads

The form of dancing gathered popularity through parts of Europe, England and Spain. Other ballrooms and operas embraced the court dance forms and began teaching what Louis had created. In 1738, French dancing masters traveled as far as Russia, where Jean-Baptiste Lande established a school that gradually became the school of the Kirov Ballet at the Maryinsky Threater. According to Labelledanse.com, other French dance instructors traveled to the New World where French ballroom dances became popular "in the salons of the governors of New France (Quebec) and later at Colonial assemblies in which George Washington danced the minuet."

Baroque Dance Evolves

The baroque dance form that was made famous under the Sun King continued to thrive during reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI. As the French Revolution began in the late 19th century, the dance grew closer to the modern form of dance known as classical ballet.

References

• La Belle Danse: A Brief History of Baroque Dance
• BaroqueDance.com: Definition of Baroque Dance