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The Magnificent Beginnings

Margot Fonteyn introduces the fifth program in the series from Versailles where Louis XIV's interest in and promotion of ballet let to world-wide recognition of the art and the dance as we know it today. Ballet originally danced by amateurs-couriters but in 1669 Louis set up the first professional school company. Dancers and masters were soon traveling world-wide. Costumes became lighter so technique advanced; emotion was added to technique and ordinary stories began to take place of dances about gods etc.

English
  • Originally Aired December 3, 1979
  • Runtime 59 minutes
  • Production Company BBC
  • Created January 23, 2024 by
    spiderlaura
  • Modified January 23, 2024 by
    spiderlaura