Thursday, February 16, 2017

Throwback Thursday and Feuillet






Throwback Thursday and Feuillet

Raoul Auger Feuillet was born in 1653 and became famous in dance history for his system of notating (writing down) choreography. He published Chorégraphie, ou l'art de décrire la danse in 1700 which described this method which he created along with Pierre Beauchamp. This system of notation was commissioned by Louis XIV, and became widely used during the 1700s.

This work was translated into English by John Weaver as Orchesography. Or the Art of Dancing and by P. Siris as The Art of Dancing. Both translations were published in 1706.

According to a reference in the Library of Congress:

"This manual details a dance notation system that indicates the placement of the feet and six basic leg movements: plié, releveé, sauté, cabriole, tombé, and glissé. Changes of body direction and numerous ornamentations of the legs and arms are also part of the system. The system is based on tract drawings that trace the pattern of the dance. Additionaly, bar lines in the dance score correspond to bar lines in the music score. Signs written on the right or left hand side of the tract indicate the steps" (Library of Congress, Dance Instruction Manuals, accessed 04-05-2009).

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Ballet Secret:
“Raoul Auger Feuillet was a French dance notator who devised an early method for preserving choreography.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“What I believe to be true I must therefore preserve.”
Albert Camus

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