The purpose of this communication is to enquire into the reception of French dance in Spain during the reign of Felipe V (1700-1746) through one of its most emblematic choreographic manifestations: the Minué.
This genre, together with the Contradanza, enjoyed enormous acceptance in our country, popularity that increased throughout the century as it reflected the number of sources preserved.
In fact, everyone danced a la francesa in Spanish salons and the manuals explain very carefully the steps, choreographies and protocol rules. However, what remains of the Spanish tradition? How does it coexist with the fashionable foreign repertoire?
Can we speak of a new hybrid style, the fruit of the cultural interrelation between both countries?
Regardless of finding answers or not to the aforementioned questions, the rich content of these sources provides interesting information about the most common repertoire in the courtly society of that time. The discovery of concordances with French treatises is a significant fact that denotes the circulation of a common musical-choreographic corpus, known and practised assiduously among the nobility.
In sum, the comparative analysis of these documents, complemented by the study of reference works by contemporary researchers, will allow links to be established that help to draw conclusions about the ever complex task of recreating the Spanish choreographic heritage of this period
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Pilar Montoya Chica
Multifaceted artist born in Zaragoza. She commenced her studies of Early Music with J.L. González Uriol achieving the Higher Certificate of Harpsichord and Organ with Honours. Also Pilar Montoya graduated in Orchestra Conducting at the Royal School of Music in London.
With a grant from the Provincial Council of Zaragoza and later from the Swiss Government, she furthered her studies in the “Schola Cantorum Basiliensis” where she studied Thorough Bass and Chamber Music, Singing, Conducting, Historical Dance and Baroque Gesture. At the same time she studied Harpsichord and Clavichord with I. Wjuniski in Paris, completing her studies with the First Prize in Harpsichord.
She is now working on her Doctoral Thesis “La Danza en la Corte de Felipe V” under the direction of Begoña Lolo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid). She also founded the historical dance company “Los Comediantes del Arte” and has been invited to give concerts, courses and lectures on early music and dance in Conservatories, Universities, Congresses and other Institutions.