Space for dancing

Sixteenth-century choreographers' spatial awareness transformed danced spectacles, shifting from participatory events to distant admirations. The study reveals how spaces evolved from rearranged bourgeois halls and princely gardens (e.g., Amboise 1518, Fontainebleau 1546) to elaborate theatre structures designed by artists like Leonardo da Vinci (1490). By analyzing these settings—ranging from intimate rooms in Bordeaux (1575) and Cambrai (1577) to grand theatres for the Duke of Ferrara (1549) and Henri II (Paris 1559)—the research demonstrates how Italian engineers' innovations in France redefined dancing as a spectacle, prioritizing visual admiration over participation. This transition marked a significant shift in choreographic artistry.

McGowan, M. M. (2018). Space for dancing. Occasions of State, 143–166. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315578453-9