The Baroque Shoe
When King Louis XIV of France stepped out in high-heel shoes, he could not have guessed the impact it would have upon the evolution of both music and dance. The elevated heel of the baroque shoe, its height considered moderate and subtle by today’s standards, was a radical shift from previous European footwear fashions which were traditionally either highly practical and durable or ludicrously impractical: some styles often imposing a peculiar or affected gait curiously prized as a symbol of rank or status amongst the upper classes. The ‘baroque shoe’ was both fashionable and wearable but its effect upon movement and particularly the manner of performing dance steps was marked. The dominance of the French court and the spread of French dancing throughout Europe meant that this shift in one small element of fashion had wider cultural consequences than could have been imagined by its designer. This paper will explore the ways in which the baroque shoe may have influenced the evolution of the French baroque style of dance and consider whether this influence was confined only to the dance itself?
Mary Collins (Hon ARAM) is an Early Dance specialist whose research and teaching approach has inspired musicians to look afresh at the dance music that is at the heart of the baroque repertoire, bringing in turn, a fresh perspective on the great composers of the baroque era. Pushing the boundaries of accepted knowledge, Mary’s radical impact upon historically informed performance-practice is widely acknowledged. Reviving original choreography and gesture for historical performance, Mary promotes a vibrant, multi-disciplinary approach to music making, valued by artists and audiences alike. She is Professor of Baroque Dance at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has recently retired from the Royal College of Music where she taught for over 30 years. Mary receives frequent invitations from academies and conservatoires around the world and regularly performs with leading baroque ensembles and orchestras. By bringing both dance and music to life, Mary aims to reintegrate the two disciplines in a manner, whilst rigorously sourced, is both entertaining and relevant to modern audiences.