Baroque Dance: "O the Pleasure of the Plains!" from Handel's "Acis & Galatea"

George Frideric Handel originally composed his pastoral opera or masque "Acis & Galatea" in 1718, although he revised it several times, incorporating additional dance airs, notably in 1732.

This air and chorus "O the Pleasures of the Plains!" in duple time provided a wonderful opportunity for La Belle Danse artistic director Daniel Gariépy to choreograph an original group piece in the style of the 18th century. It features popular steps and sequences from the era, and also utilizes baroque rhetorical gesture in the middle sequence to accompany and illustrate the sung solos. The reprise of the choral air introduces a danced reprise, but with men and women trading sequences from the first iteration.

Members of La Belle Danse Baroque Dance Company are: Jennifer Fell, Melissa Fink, Adrienne Legget and Daniel Gariépy. Special guest artists from The National Ballet of Canada are Etienne Lavigne & Patrick Lavoie.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• baroque
• dance
• danse
• ballet
• La
• Belle
• Danse
• Handel
• Acis
• Galatea
• pastoral
• opera
• masque
• 18th
• century
• National
• Ballet
• Canada
• nymphs
• shepherds
• opéra
• pastorale
• historical
• recreation

[Anndreamer1]

Lovely! Thank you for this :-)

[LaBelleDanse]

It's our pleasure!

[LaBelleDanse]

Thanks all - glad you enjoyed!

[palfab962]

my favourite baroque dance sequence - thanks

[nicksum29]

@grandadpoppyable Nah, these guys are so good, they would have stood out against a Christmas tree!

[grandadpoppyable]

Its a minimalist set. One is therfore unconciously directed to focus on the music first; costumes second and set deco last.

[mammilaria1]

handel at his best...thank you

[nicksum29]

Absolutely beautiful, but oh, oh, oh, the decor cries out for gilt, cherubs and gold leaf.

[littlecorinthian]

How beautiful! :0) Well done!