FANDANGO IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY THEORY AND ON EUROPEAN STAGES

Dance theory discussed the Fandango as part of the Hispanomania in nineteenth-century Europe; choreography displayed the use of this cultural hype on dance stages. 'Spanishness' was considered to broaden the movement vocabulary used so far for theatrical dancing. Furthermore, it allowed the dancers to develop more expressive and personal performance modes. The ballet masters, thus (or as well), included a great number of Spanish dances into their works. Henri Justamant (1815-1886), one of the most prolific choreographers of his time, left over 100 'livrets de mise en scene', i.e., notations and descriptions of his many stage productions. These manuscripts present the documentation and dramaturgic usage of a great number of Spanish dances; a Fandango, notated in the ballet Les Conscrits Espagnols of 1850/51, will be the topic of a close reading in this lecture that intends to exemplify some concepts as well as practice-based programs of the Fandango in European (dance) culture.