1. Journal #3: 02-25-2010 Dance in America
Think back to American History. What was life like in the original 13 colonies during the 1700’s?
Do you think that people at this time would have danced often? Why or why not?
In comparison, do you think dancing is more or less popular today? What reasons can you offer for the difference?
Finally, do you like to dance? Why or why not?

2. By Vanessa Molden Western High School
Neoclassical Dance
By Vanessa Molden
Western High School

3. Classical Ballet
Becoming more of a professional art form during the 1700s in Europe.
Stars of dance:
Marie Anne de Camargo ( )
Marie Salle ( )
Jean-Georges Noverre ( )

4. Marie Anne de Camargo
Known as the most accomplished dancer of the 18c.
Responsible for changes in ballet attire.
BEFORE NEOCLASSICAL:
Stiff, hooped skirts that reached the floor
Elaborate headdresses
Stiff, heeled shoes
CHANGES DURING NEOCLASSICAL:
Shorter shirts, several inches off the floor
Undergarments (later became dance tights)
Softer shoes (first “ballet slipper”)
Camargo also invented the entrechat – where a dancer jumps into the air and crosses their feet rapidly. (see VIDEO)

5. Marie Salle
Known for dramatic realism and natural, expressive movement, rather than technical skill.
Costumes like Greek sculptures, with draped fabric over the dancer’s body.

6. Jean-Georges Noverre
Wrote the book Letters on Dancing and Ballet (1760), introducing his controversial philosophy: Ballet d’Action.
He believed ballet had become stale, and full of conventional movements and gestures that had little to do with the storyline, so he wanted to change the direction of ballet.

7. Ballet d’Action Jean-Georges Noverre believed:
Ballet should be both technically brilliant AND emotionally moving.
Plots of ballets should be unified and tell a story.
Music, scenery and plot should be unified.
Elaborate PANTOMIME needs to be simplified and made easy to understand.
Ballet should discard masks, heavily-padded clothing, and hooped skirts.

8. Dance in America
In northern colonies, Puritans disapproved of dancing, and believed it was indecent and immoral.
Social dancing was banned because they did not like the mixing of the sexes.
In southern colonies, settlers did dances they brought from home: jigs, clogs, and court dances like the minuet.
Slaves brought traditional dances from Africa, but were prohibited from dancing in public.

9. Your Assignment
Neoclassical Dance crossword puzzle.