Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Feuillet: Harlequin head and hat, arm, shoulder and wrist movements

The only good source of information concerning head motion (and motion of a cap) in dance has extremely poor graphics (due to age). This is from "Chacoon for Harlequin", by Le Roussau, c. 1728. 1 However, this is an extremely imporatant addition to Feuillet choreography, as it is an independent addition to this body of choreography. As the figures are not clear, a textual description will be provided. Head motion is coordinated with foot, body and hand/wrist, arm, neck, and shoulder movement.

The primary head motions consist of:
Face straight forward, Harlequin head straight forward
Face turned to the left, looking over left shoulder, Looking over left shoulder
Face turned to the right, looking over right shoulder, Looking over right shoulder
Leaning head down on left shoulder, Lean on Left Shoulder
Leaning head down on right shoulder, Leaning Right Shoulder
Stretching neck and head forward, no shoulder motions, Stretch Neck+Head no Shoulders
Hat, Hat

A further addition to Feuillet choreography that consists of a "half moon" symbol at the end of the arm, which represents the hand that takes off or puts on the hat. Examples of arm/hat motions include:
Raising the arm as high as the head, Raise arm to Head
Lower arm to be in-line with shoulder, Lower arm in-line Shoulder
Stretch arm forward, back, then forward: the Arlequin Salutation, Forward Back Forward Salutation
Raising arm, turning wrist to put on hat, Raising arm turning wrist to put on hat
Turn arm around shoulder, Turn arm around shoulder

Examples of Harlequin head, hat, arm, shoulder and wrist choreography.
  • Sample choreography
  • Head, hat, arm, wrist and shoulder choreography
  • Ending sequence head motions

    • All these motions are written showing musical measures and lines of liason. Thus if the choreography had to be extended in some other way (such as the "dactyologia" 2 of Hindu dance, or use of ankle bells with ankle motions in Hindue dance), new additions to Feuillet choreographic notation could easily be created.

    1 Thorp, Jennifer; "A Collection of New Ball- and Stage Dances, 1720", Lulu.com, Oxford, UK, pp. 101-111
    2 Kirsten, Lincoln; "Four Centuries of Ballet: Fifty Masterworks", Dover Publications, New York, 1970, p. 20

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