L’allemande et ses passes à la fin du XVIIIe siècle

Drawing on sources that have been little studied or are difficult to access, this research focuses on a dance consisting of a single main step and its variations, deriving its originality from the different arm positions in which the two partners intertwine. Based on the structure of a square contradance typical in France as early as the mid-18th century, the allemande was described by Parisian and provincial dance masters (Jean Robert in Orléans in 1770, Brives in Toulouse in 1779) and gained fame both on the dance floor and on stage. A detailed practical analysis of the dance is compared with Matthieu Franchin’s work on the music for the entertainment segments of 18th-century Comédie-Française performances.