A very satisfying reading to plunge into the beginning of 19th century.
The depiction of the "Foyer de la danse" in 1827 , when Maria Taglioni danced for the first time on the stage of the Paris Opera, is superbe and enlightening. Here in French language...
The Foyer was the entrance hall where the dancers arrived before the performance to warm up and sign their presence in the account book. Only a few guests where allowed, mostly men of high ranks, like journalists, critics, intellectuals, artists who could meet the dancers and establish a relationship with her favourite ballerina...to the point that it was called the temple of pleasure! This feature reminds of the "Devadasi" of the hindu tradition, who later became "Rajadasi"(court dancers) whose role was very similar to the one of those European ballerinas: to entertain the royal people.
Nowadays the Foyer is opened to everyone, being the large hall before the sitting area of the theatre. If you go to the "Teatro alla Scala "of Milan you can reach the upper levels without passing through the foyer which prove that what Monsieur Vaillat wrote in this page of the book is absolutely true.
Interesting to note also that in the description appears the barre as a round wooden stick attached to the mirrors of the Foyer and covered with red velvet material. There is no mention of a practice of exercises at the barre but we can think that the dancers where warming up by putting their leg on it.
The photo of Maria Taglioni is here in this blog on the left as our logo. She is dancing" La Sylphide" a romantic ballet choreographed by her father Filippo Taglioni in 1832.
We will talk about it later...