Pierre Beauchamp facts for kids

Pierre Beauchamp (born October 30, 1631 – died February 1705) was a famous French dancer, choreographer (someone who creates dances), and composer. He is also thought to have invented a way to write down dance steps, called Beauchamp–Feuillet notation. His family was full of musicians and dancers. His grandfather was a musician, and his father played the violin for the king.

Pierre Beauchamp's Life and Work

Pierre Beauchamp was born in Versailles, France. His family were "dance masters," meaning they were experts at teaching and creating dances. He started dancing for King Louis XIV when he was only 12 years old, in a show called Ballet du dérèglement des passions.

In 1671, Beauchamp became the director of the Royal Academy of Dance. He was also the main choreographer for Molière's acting company, the Troupe du Roy, from 1664 to 1673. On top of that, he was the ballet master at the Royal Academy of Music and the "Composer of the King's Ballets." He even gave dance lessons to King Louis XIV for more than 22 years!

How Beauchamp Influenced Dance

Pierre Beauchamp was very important in developing French baroque dance. This was a popular style of dance during his time. Even after Jean-Baptiste Lully, a famous composer, died in 1687, Beauchamp continued to create and perform dances at the King's court. From 1697, he mostly focused on creating ballets and music for Jesuit Colleges. He passed away in Paris in 1705.

Inventing Dance Notation

Years after Beauchamp's time, a writer named Pierre Rameau gave Beauchamp credit for setting up the five basic positions of the feet used in classical ballet. He also helped develop how dancers use their arms.

In 1700, a method for writing down dances was printed by Raoul-Auger Feuillet. This system became known as Beauchamp–Feuillet notation. It was changed a little bit by Pierre Rameau in 1725. However, it was still used throughout the 1700s to record dances for the stage and for people to learn at home.

Surviving Dances

Two of Beauchamp's dance creations still exist today in old handwritten copies. One is a dance for two people called Rigaudons de Mr Bauchand, which was for ballroom dancing. The other is a solo dance for a man called Sarabande de Mr. de Beauchamp. This sarabande is special because it needs a very skilled dancer with lots of spins and fancy steps, but it doesn't have any jumps where the legs beat together in the air.

Selected Works by Pierre Beauchamp

Working with Molière and Lully

• Les Fâcheux (1661) – Beauchamp created the dances, music, and led the orchestra.
• Le Mariage forcé (1664)
• Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (1669) – He created the ballets for this play.
• Les Amants magnifiques (1670)
• Psyché (1671) – He created the ballets.
• Le Malade imaginaire (1673) – He created the ballets for this famous play.

Original Choreography for Pierre Perrin

• Pomone (1671) – This was an opera.

Choreography with Lully

• L'Impatience (1661)
• La Naissance de Vénus (1665)
• Alceste (1674)
• Atys (1676)
• Isis (1677)
• Le Triomphe de l'amour (1681) – Created with Pécour.
• Ballet de la jeunesse (1686)

Images for kids

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  Pierre Beauchamp