Chorégraphie, ou L'art de décrire la dance par caracteres, figures et signes desmonstratifs

About this book

Originally published in 1700, 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. Chorégraphie was reprinted three times and translated into English by John Weater in 1706.