Paris The City That Dances
Paris has a long tradition of dance. Dance was important in all social strata. In the Belle Époque private Dances were frequently held in the grand mansions owned by the rich, the ‘hôtels particuliers’ and the not so rich danced in public places such as the Jardin Mabille; such places for dancing were known as ‘bals’, and there is a wonderful painting of ‘Le Bal Mobile’ by the French impressionist painter Jean Béraud. The Bal Mobile was established by a professor of dance known as Père Mabille. He rented land on rue Montaigne and opened the dancing area. At first...