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is an 18th-century French folk dance which takes its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap of Dauphine where the dance originated. It is in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo. An unusual feature is that phrases begin in the middle of the bar (so if it is in 4/4 time, they begin on the third beat crotchet of the bar with a two-beat upbeat). It became popular in the court of Louis XIV. where Jean-Baptiste Lully wrote music. Several other classical composers wrote examples, with it being a popular constituent of the Baroque suite, it is found in those by composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

International Dance Day
is celebrated on April 29th each year
in commemoration of the birth of
Monsieur Jean-Georges Noverre
(1727-1810)

Jean-Georges Noverre

King Louis XIV. of France was a passionate patron of dance and a showman. When he was crowned, his interest in dancing was strongly supported and encouraged by Italian-born Cardinal Mazarin, (formerly Mazarini), who assisted Louis XIV. The young king made his ballet debut as a boy, but it was in 1653 as a teenager that he accomplished his most memorable feat as a dancer. He performed a series of dances in Le Ballet de la Nuit and for his final piece he appeared as Apollo, god of the sun. Wearing a fancy golden Roman-cut corselet and a kilt of golden rays, he came to be known as the 'Sun King'.

In 1661, Louis XIV. officially recognized dance instruction by establishing the 'Academie Royale de Danse'. The king especially favored the french Minuet which enjoyed great popularity in the late 1700's when he held Minuet dances in his court at Versailles.
Napoleon Bonaparte and Maria Luisa at CompiegneMarie Antoinette

Sylvie Guillem CBE (born 23 February 1965 in Paris, France) is a French ballet dancer. She was the top-ranking female dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet from 1984 to 1989, before becoming a principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet in London. She is currently performing contemporary dance as an Associate Artist of London's Sadler's Wells Theatre. Her most notable performances have included those in Giselle and in Rudolf Nureyev's stagings of Swan Lake and Don Quixote.Mademoiselle Guillem has received numerous decorations during her career. She was made a chevalier of the Lègion d'honneur in 1994, an officier of the Ordre national du Mèrite in 1999, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.
"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world" - Voltaire
The Vienna State Opera announced on Thursday, January 9, 2009 that French star dancer Manuel Legris was chosen to direct its ballet from 2010. Danseur Legris follows the reign of Hungarian Director Gyula Harangozo and will retire as leading dancer at the Paris National Opera in 2010. In the course of his career, Manuel worked with choreographers such as William Forsythe, John Neumeier and Maurice Bejart.
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