Anthony L'Abbé

Anthony L'Abbé, sometimes written as L'abbé, was a dancer, dance composer, and dancing master, born 1667 in France, who spent the best part of his career in England.

The earliest noted event in his career 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 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.

There are 27 known notated dances composed by him in the course of his career, thus ranking him among the most prolific dance composers of the early 18th century.