The Renaissance

A Rebirth, 1581

I'm not sure about you, but I was so excited for Catherine De Medici to marry Henri II! Catherine is so invested in the arts, especially in dance! I think her idea to use dance as a way to take our minds off of war and hard times! Her other great idea was hiring Balthasar de Beaujoyeaulx as the court dance master. 

Recently I was lucky enough to be an honored guest at a Magnifique by Beaujoyeux. Le Ballet Comique de la Reine was stunning! It was a grande celebration with thousands of guest and hours of entertainment for the marriage Duc de Joyeaux and Margerite of Lorraine!

I of course, could not stop staring and the costumes of the dancers! The movement that was choreographed was stunning, the dancers went in and out of complex formations and lines all while surrounded by beautiful music and scenery. Now, back to the COSTUMES! 

As you can see in these photos, the dresses were quite large, and not only big but also very heavy! Most of the quick footwork came from the men because you had a clearer view of their feet. The women's movement was much more restricted, especially in the upper body because of the corsets and ruffs. Even the men wore very tight fitting and restrictive coats. They did not use much of their upper body or head while moving across the dance floor. That's why there was so much focus on the patterns and lines the dancers created. This way they could show off the dresses they were wearing as well as show off their dancing skills.

Overall the ballet was wonderful and so were the costumes!