Dancer Adeline Genée wore this sumptuous costume as Françoise Prévost in the first scene of her ballet La Danse, which traced the evolution of ballet from 18th century France to the beginnings of the 20th century. In it, she danced a Passepied, literally translating as passing feet. This is a dance related to the minuet, but much faster with, as the title suggests, quick, neat footwork. Tthe music was taken from Lully and Rameau. The dress might have concealed much of the footwork, but the impression was of elegance as she manipulated her dress and stole and speedy movement across the stage.
The richness of the fabrics and trimmings and the finish of the dress is outstanding. Genée spared no expense to achieve the right effects and Wilhelm's researches ensured all possible accuracy, although, due to lack of original images of Prévost, the costume was based on a print of an earlier dancer, Mlle. Subligny.
Physical description
Costume for Mademoiselle Prevost worn by Adeline Genee in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912 and London Coliseum, 1914
[Theatre costume] Dress in early 18th century style. The overskirt with trained back is of grey and gold silk brocade lined with shot green silk and trimmed with gold lace, tassels, and artificial jewels. The underskirt of shot green silk is elaborately decorated around the hem with Baroque-style motifs and tassels. Fixed at the back is a length of blue ninon with gold motif decoration
[Theatre costume] Headdress of blue ninon with gold motif decoration, set with artificial pearls and feather mount.
Date
1912
Artist/maker
Wilhelm, born 1858 - died 1925 (costume designers)
Materials and Techniques
[Theatre costume] Silk brocade trimmed with lace, tassels, and artificial jewels
[Theatre costume] Artificial pearls and feathers
Object history note
Costume for Mademoiselle Prevost worn by Adeline Genee in Tableau I of the ballet 'La Danse', Metropolitan Opera House, New York, December 17th 1912 and London Coliseum, 6th April 1914. The ballet was choreographed by Genee, and the music was arranged and partly composed by Dora Bright. The costumes were designed by Wilhelm and executed by Miss Hastings and Alias.
The programme states that the ballet was:
'An Authentic Record by Adeline Genee of Dancing and Dancers between the Years 1710 and 1845'
In seven tableaux and prelude and finale.
Tableau I: Mademoiselle Prevost (Passepied from Triomphe de l'Amour / Chaconne from Le Menage de Moliere - Lully; Paraphrase on Rameau's Rigaudon - arr Bright)
Tableau II: Mademoiselle de Camargo (Gavotte in F - Padre Martini; Rigaudon - Rameau; Corelli's Chaconne with Variations (1633) - Bright)
Tableau III: Mademoiselle Salle (Tambourin and Musette - Rameau; Coninette - Gretry; Old Breton Air/Serenade from Don Giovanni - Mozart)
Tableau IV: Mlles. Guimard, Allard and Mons. Duprez (Pdt, Pantomime, Allegro from Les Petits Riens - Mozart; Minuet in A - Boccherini; Gavotte in G from Paris and Helen - Gluck)
Tableau V: Debut de la Valse (Fantasie on Waltz Themes (Strauss) - Bright; Waltz Promotionen - Strauss; Who is Silvia? - Schubert; Das Fischermadchen - Meyerbeer; Du Bist Wie Eine Blume - Schumann; Song without Words - Mendelssohn)
Tableau VI: Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni (Prelude - Mazurka/Waltz - Chopin)
Tableau VII: the Famous Pas de Quatre (Ballade from Coppelia - Delibes)
Descriptive line
Costume for Mademoiselle Prevost worn by Adeline Genee in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912 and London Coliseum, 1914
Exhibition History
Adeline Genée - Centenary (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/05/1978-31/05/1978)
?Silk Stars of the Theatre Museum (Liberty & Co Department Store 20/09/1982-29/10/1982)
Associated names
Prévost, Françoise; Genée, Adeline
Production Note
Reason For Production: Commission
Materials
Silk; Lace; Feather; Pearls (imitation); Silk brocade; Imitation jewels; Tassel
Subjects depicted
Prévost, Françoise
Categories
Clothing; Stage costumes; Hats & headwear
Production Type
Unique
Collection code
T&P
