1. The Professionalization of Ballet – late 17th cen.
The Rise of Ballet d’Action – 18th cen.
<< Mlle du Fort: one of the first female dancers to appear at the Paris Opera, 1695.
Georges Jean Noverre:
(1727–1810) Father of the Ballet d’Action

2. The Court Ballet in Decline
<< Ballet at Versailles
The Court Ballet in Decline

3. Marie-Thérèse Women enter the Profession de SUBLIGNY:
(1666 – 1736)
Françoise PREVOST
(1680 – 1741)

4. Turnout made body more visible. Continued hierarchy
The Proscenium Stage
Framed & separated
Turnout made body more visible.
Continued hierarchy

5. Les Indes Galantes 1735 costume design
Marie Camargo ( )
Marie Sallé ( ) >>

6. 18th century ballet
costumes

7. Noverre’s Reforms Letters on Dancing & Ballet 1760
A unity of design and a logical progression from introduction to climax
The whole was not was not sacrificed to the part
Anything unnecessary to the theme was eliminated.
Movement was to be defined by the tone and time of the music.

8. Noverre’s Reforms Letters on Dancing & Ballet 1760
4. Choreographers should avoid over-complicated steps and turn to nature for natural means of expression which all could understand.
5. Costume reform recommended attire better suited to the roles portrayed.

9. BALLET D’ACTION
Jean Georges Noverre’s
Jason et Medée (1763)

10. Jason and Medea
Reconstruction Sweden

11. Auguste VESTRIS
( )