Connections between Costume and Dancing Body in the 18th Century
Résumé
Greeks, warriors, priestesses, shepherds, nymphs, sailors… the character was the main indicator for the form of dance costume during the eighteenth century, and the way how these should be represented was highly codified. However, the dance technique also played an important role in this equation. The connection between the costume and the dancing body in the period – a relation that has not yet been sufficiently recognized in costume and dance studies – is the main theme of this presentation.
The theatrical dance featured various styles or genres: serious, demi-caractère, comic and grotesque. Each of these styles required different movement qualities, different postures and even steps, which were then further diversified according to characters. This paper shows how costumes contributed to the creation of the dancing bodies in various styles, shaping them through the cut of fabric and accessories, in order to embody the diverse aesthetic. The relation is explored through the study of dance treatises which describe the genres, of costume designs and inventories, and of extant costumes preserved in various European collections.