Anthony L'Abbé
French-born English Dancing Master
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anthony L'Abbé, sometimes written as L'abbé,[1] was a dancer, dance composer, and dancing master, born 1667 in France,[2] who spent the best part of his career in England.[3]
The earliest noted event in his career[3]: 44 is to a virtuosic duet to a Loure, taken from Acis et Galatée, act II, #6, that he composed and performed before William III together with his dance partner Claude Balon.
He became the dancing master to the 3 daughters of George II, and he composed and published an annual series of ball dances for George I's birthday starting in 1715[3]: 114 with The Princess Royal, dedicated to Princess Anne, the eldest daughter.
Around 1725 A New Collection of Dances was published containing 13 theatrical solos and duets, composed by L'abbé, which were performed by a number of the leading dancers in England between the time of William III, as mentioned above, to at least 1721.[3]: 123
There are 27 known notated dances composed by him in the course of his career,[3]: 150 thus ranking him among the most prolific dance composers of the early 18th century.