DANCING AT THE ENGLISH OPERA: MARIE SALLÉ'S LETTER TO THE DUCHESS OF RICHMOND

Abstract

Although leading female dancers of the early eighteenth century inspired much commentary in contemporaneous journals, diaries and newspapers, the frequently speculative nature of these writings presents a very real problem for the present day researcher. Archival sources for dancers working at the Paris Opera during the first half of the eighteenth century abound, yet there are inevitably lacunae. Marie Salle (? 1707-1756), renowned in her time for her grace, expressivity, skill as a mimic artist and interest in costume reform, presents a particular challenge, for both her popularity and the peripatetic nature of her career have inspired a legion of myths. Indeed, much of the speculation about Salle concerns the motivation behind, and the timing of, her frequent sojourns in London. The admirable archival study of this dancer by Emile Dacier, published in 1909, while providing a solid basis from which