Ballet Comique de la Reine

Engraving of the first scene of the Ballet Comique de la Reine. Click to enlarge.

The Ballet Comique de la Reine was a court entertainment, now considered to be the first ballet. It was staged in Paris, France, in 1581 for the court of Catherine de' Medici. It was produced and choreographed by Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx and danced by Queen Louise and the women of the court. This ballet was also known for its long length of over five hours and its elaborate and scattered stage design. It had elaborate costumes and centered around the myth of the Greek goddess Circe.

References

• Cecil Sharp's "The Dance, an Historical Survey of Dancing in Europe", 1924

See also

• Catherine de' Medici's court festivals

External links

• Le Balet Comique de la Reine, 1581: An Analysis by Elizabeth Cooper

v • d • e Ballet General information History of ballet · Ballet timeline · Glossary of ballet · List of ballets · Ballet music · Ballet company · Ballet Portal Ballet by genre Classical ballet · Contemporary ballet · Neoclassical ballet Ballet by region French ballet · Russian ballet · British ballet Ballet technique Balanchine method · Cecchetti method · Vaganova method · En pointe