Baroque dance marks the beginning of ballet as we know it today. Louis XIV created a school for dance and codified the system. Dance notation was developed as dance gained importance. Presentation and performance were transformed between the mid-17th and 18th centuries birthing the individual artist's accomplishment, the viruoso. Previously, it was the courtiers who danced, being the court's employees, not trained dancers and musicians. |
The dance completes this music; without it, the original intention and melody is incomplete. Original manuscripts and dance materials teach us the lanuage and allow us to reconstruct the dance. |
| 18TH CENTURY DANCE |
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The parts of the Baroque music suite, such as the sarabande, the minuet, and the gavotte, were originally dances. Dance music was so popular that it became concert music. This is an example of 18th Century dance notation, the written languate of dance, always accompanied by the corresponding music. It was one thought from note to step. The dancer was, in fact, another instrument, with a musical line written for them, as important as the bass and treble clef. |
Resources for 18th Century music include: |
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR LATEST VIDEO, "THE PARTS OF THE SUITE," ALSO KNOWN AS "MINUETS ARE OFTEN HEARD BUT NOT SEEN," PLEASE CONTACT US THROUGH OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS: director@thedanceproject.org / see the reviews |