Overview of Broken Dance and Popular 18th Century Dances

Introduction

• Broken dance is noted for its elegant, refined, and opulent style.
• It reflects an era that valued elegance, harmony, and elaborate ornamentation.

The Minuet

• Most popular social dance of the 18th century.
• Adopted by French nobility in 1670.
  • Remained popular for 120 years.
  • Vestiges of its form persist today.
• Popularity peaked in the first half of the 18th century.
• Represented a stylized form of courtship.
• Featured steps:
  • Demi coupé: a movement involving a step and cut.
  • Flu array: a flourish-like movement.
  • Dancers touch right hands, spiral in, touch hands again, and circle before retreating.

The Allemande

• Rose to popularity around the mid-18th century.
• Innovations:
  • Involved intertwined hand-holding.
• Key movements:
  • Woman turns left under man's right arm.
  • Dancers create and move through formations like 'rosette'.

Contra Dances

• Gained popularity as the century progressed.
• Characteristics:
  • Less confining and complex compared to earlier dances.
  • Allowed more people to dance simultaneously.
  • Promoted inclusivity in contrast to traditional exclusionary practices.
• Basic Steps:
  • Contra Tongue: hop-step-step-hop-step-step.
  • Assembly: assembly-flat-top-assembly.
• Dance Sequence:
  • Dancers bow to the presence and each other.
  • First couple interacts with themselves, then with the second couple.
  • Both couples interact and the first couple returns to a new position.