Character dance Character dance Character dance is a specific subdivision of classical dance. It is the stylized representation of a traditional folk or national dance, mostly from European countries, and uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theater. Character dance is integral to much of the classical ballet repertoire. A good example of character dance within ballet is the series of national dances which take place at the beginning of Act III of Swan Lake. The ballet Don Quixote as well as La sylphide also features many character variations based on traditional Spanish dances. Popular character dance adaptations for
Odette de Champdivers Odette de Champdivers Odette de Champdivers (also known as "Oudine" or "Odinette"; c. 1390 - c. 1425) was the chief mistress of Charles VI of France (the Mad). She was called "la petite reine" ("the little queen") by Charles and contemporaries. According to Georges Bordonove, "Odette was the daughter of a maître d'hôtel of the King's Household, certain Guyot de Champdivers", who in fact was her brother. The messages of Père Anselme established her as a daughter of Odin or Oudin de Champdivers, who around 1387 was equerry stableman (Latin: "marescallus equorum") at the court of King Charles VI. She