Dancing About with Mr Mozart

By a delighted Madame Adelaidezone


Dancing to many of Mr Mozart's tunes can be so delightful, especially when that gentleman himself leads one into the ballroom or reception hall on an important stately or sparkling social occasion.  Not only has Mr Mozart written many memorable dance tunes, he is also quite renowned as a dancer himself.  Perhaps his love of dancing was the reason he desired to become a composer in the first place.

Have you danced a minuet?

A friend of our great mutual friend was Monsieur Jean-George Noverre, whose name may be familiar to you if you like to dance too.  In Paris, in 1778, Monsieur Noverre asked Mr Mozart to write a ballet, which he duly did.  It is called Les Petits Riens - The Little Nothings.

See and hear a little sample of the ballet in performance

Mr Mozart also included dances in his operas from time to time, and even some ballet.  A large amount of his instrumental music is also based on the rhythms of dance, perhaps meaning that audiences were just as likely to be moving about on their feet as sitting down on their bottoms.  Have you danced to a Mozartian tune today?

If you perform any of Mr Mozart's music, whether with your voice or another instrument, it may improve your understanding of his works, and your audiences' appreciation, if you also become familiar with the history and rudimentary technicalities of dancing, regardless of your geography or mobility.  Will you allow Mr Mozart to lead?