Baroque Dance: Chacone of Galathee

Lully’s opera of “Acis et Galatée“ was composed in 1686. The dance reconstructed here is from a 1725 notation found in Anthony L’Abbé’s Collection of Ball and Stage Dances. Originally performed by Monsieur La Garde and Hester Santlow, this virtuosic duet quietly and unobtrusively showcases some complex variations in the lexicon of baroque dance steps. This dance was featured in a presentation entitled “A Ball at the Court of Louis XV“ presented by La Belle Danse at the Betty Oliphant Theatre, National Ballet School, Toronto. Dancers from La Belle Danse Baroque Dance Company are Daniel Gariépy and Melissa Fink. Soprano: Carolyn Sinclair. Mr. Gariépy has reconstructed the dance from the original notation, but has lengthened it to accompany the sung air and reprise by reintroducing step sequences from within the original.