Académie Royale de Danse
King Louis XIV, the Sun King
King Louis XIV of France reigned for seventy two years. He founded the Académie Royale de Danse, which translates to the Royal academy of dancing. It was founded in the year of 1661. This academy was the birth of academic dance technique. King Louis was known for his love or dance and wanted to teach various dances to his court members. At first, the dancers of the company would dance on ballroom floors but later, transitioned to elevated stages. By dancing on elevated stages, the audience’s perspective is different; the movement of their feet was now more significant.
The ballets danced in the king’s court were made to portray the authority and greatness of King Louis and to glorify him. The King not only watched, but also took part in the dances. He had also participated in these types of activities when he was an adolescent. He was well built and was full of energy when he performed. However, like everyone, he was a victim of aging. He became too old and heavy and lost much of his vigorousness. But, he continued to watch ballets because he loved them very much. During the time he was ruling and because of his support of ballet, the art of ballet changed from a leisure activity to watch for monarchs into professional work.
The choreographer of the academy was Pierre Beauchamp. His ancestry consisted of many artists. He was given credit for inventing many modern ballet steps such as the pirouette and aerial turn. Beauchamp also named and formed the famous five positions of ballet. Many of the ballet terms used today are in French because Pierre Beauchamp had coordinated many of the movements.
The ballets danced in the king’s court were made to portray the authority and greatness of King Louis and to glorify him. The King not only watched, but also took part in the dances. He had also participated in these types of activities when he was an adolescent. He was well built and was full of energy when he performed. However, like everyone, he was a victim of aging. He became too old and heavy and lost much of his vigorousness. But, he continued to watch ballets because he loved them very much. During the time he was ruling and because of his support of ballet, the art of ballet changed from a leisure activity to watch for monarchs into professional work.
The choreographer of the academy was Pierre Beauchamp. His ancestry consisted of many artists. He was given credit for inventing many modern ballet steps such as the pirouette and aerial turn. Beauchamp also named and formed the famous five positions of ballet. Many of the ballet terms used today are in French because Pierre Beauchamp had coordinated many of the movements.
Marie Taglioni
Marie Taglioni-a ballerina that impacted the romatic age
When Marie Tagloni was a child, everyone looked down on her never expected her to become one of the world’s greatest ballerinas. She was a small, scrawny infant and a lengthy neck and arms and had a hunch back. No one thought she had talent and people even said she would never become a good dancer. In order to modify the imperfections of her body, her father, also a dancer and choreographer, set up a program for her. She would have to dance six hours each day; often times it would end with fatigue and almost passing out. As a result of her hard work, her legs and feet gained a lot of strength and her technique was very precise.
In 1822, Marie made her debut in her ballet career in one of her father’s ballets. Later, Marie Tagloni was given the title ‘Queen of Dance’. She was popular in Paris, London, Milan, Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg and they knew her as the best of the best of all ballerinas. She was said to break the laws of gravity when she leaped across the stage. She turned the most painful things into something beautiful and magical. When she danced, she appeared to do it effortlessly, as if she weighed less than a feather. Marie’s ability to perform on her toes daintily was what brought popularity to this style of dance.
Although Marie was the first to do many new things in the ballet era, such as being the first bayadère, she was not the first ballerina to dance on pointe shoes. However, she was the first ballerina to make dancing in pointe shoes look graceful and beautiful. The pointe shoes she danced on were not like the modern blocked ones we have today. They were delicate tube-like shoes with narrow soles as thin as paper. She was involved in hundreds of ballet productions and was the most well known ballerina in her time.
In 1847, at the age of forty-four, Marie Taglioni quit her work as a performer. She became a choreographer of the ballet, Le Papillon (The Butterfly). Soon, she became deprived of money, even though she was very rich when she was a ballerina. Though she was admired and loved as a ballerina, she died in poverty in 1884.
In 1822, Marie made her debut in her ballet career in one of her father’s ballets. Later, Marie Tagloni was given the title ‘Queen of Dance’. She was popular in Paris, London, Milan, Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg and they knew her as the best of the best of all ballerinas. She was said to break the laws of gravity when she leaped across the stage. She turned the most painful things into something beautiful and magical. When she danced, she appeared to do it effortlessly, as if she weighed less than a feather. Marie’s ability to perform on her toes daintily was what brought popularity to this style of dance.
Although Marie was the first to do many new things in the ballet era, such as being the first bayadère, she was not the first ballerina to dance on pointe shoes. However, she was the first ballerina to make dancing in pointe shoes look graceful and beautiful. The pointe shoes she danced on were not like the modern blocked ones we have today. They were delicate tube-like shoes with narrow soles as thin as paper. She was involved in hundreds of ballet productions and was the most well known ballerina in her time.
In 1847, at the age of forty-four, Marie Taglioni quit her work as a performer. She became a choreographer of the ballet, Le Papillon (The Butterfly). Soon, she became deprived of money, even though she was very rich when she was a ballerina. Though she was admired and loved as a ballerina, she died in poverty in 1884.
Charles Didelot
Charles Didelot-the inventor of the "flying machine"
Charles Didelot was born to the family of a French man working at the Stockholm's Royal Opera House. He appeared on stage for the first time as the character of Cupid after studying years with Frossart. Back then, pointe shoes were not what they were today. They were a lot less advanced and didn't make the moves and techniques look as beautiful. Didelot changed that. In 1796, the talented man created the "flying machine", which created an illusion that dancers could go on pointe. This was of course, was a machine that held the dancers up by supporting them, but it still motivated engineers to make this fantasy possible. This was a huge advance in ballet history and was a major help in the evolution of pointe shoes.
Around 1806, Didelot stopped dancing. He had suffered a huge injury to his legs and the death of his wife. He then set up his own school, became a teacher, and started creating his own ballets. After many years, Charles Didelot died in 1837. His works have been noted to be amongst the highest achievements of the Russian Musical Stage during the 19th century.
Around 1806, Didelot stopped dancing. He had suffered a huge injury to his legs and the death of his wife. He then set up his own school, became a teacher, and started creating his own ballets. After many years, Charles Didelot died in 1837. His works have been noted to be amongst the highest achievements of the Russian Musical Stage during the 19th century.