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An American Ballroom Companion: Dance Instruction Manuals

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Recüeil de contredances mises en chorégraphie, d'une maniére si aisée, que toutes personnes peuvent facilement les apprendre, sans le secours d'aucun maître et même sans avoir en aucune connoissance de la chorégraphie. Par Mr. Feuillet ...

Feuillet, Raoul-Auger, 1659 or 60-1710.

CREATED/PUBLISHED
A Paris, L'auteur, 1706.

SUMMARY
This is the first manual to be published in France that describes English country dances. Called contredanses (also spelled contredance) in France. The manual describes motions for the feet and arms, how the dance corresponds to the music, and rules for performance. Additionally, floor plans and music for ten dances are given. Feuillet also suggests appropriate steps. Performed as a series of figures by a column of men facing a column of women, the English country dance was a popular ballroom dance during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In 1710, this manual was translated into English as For the further improvement of dancing, by English dancer, dancing master and writer John Essex.

NOTES
Engraved throughout.

Contains music.

SUBJECTS
Country-dance--Handbooks, manuals, etc.--Early works to 1800.
Country-dances--17th century.
Dance notation.
Dance Instruction and Technical Manuals.
Notation for Dance.
Music for Dance.

MEDIUM
16 p.l., 192 p. diagrs. 15 cm.

CALL NUMBER
MT950 .F485

DIGITAL ID
musdi 070 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/musdi.070

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