Circus clown performing a pantomime routine.
Pantomime employs facial expressions and movements to convey a message or tell a story. Dance and acrobatics contribute to the skills needed to perform pantomime. While pantomime defines a theatrical style, people performing pantomime are known as mimes or clowns.
Roots
Pantomime originated during the Middle Ages. Pantomimus, a Greek form of solo dancing displayed both tragic and comic moves. This art form was a part of Roman culture until the Christian church questioned pantomime and forbade its display. The government counteracted the Christians' view by requiring Christians to attend Roman theater performances of pantomime. Eventually, the church won out and pantomime was banned from the stage.
Italian Renaissance
During the Italian Renaissance, pantomime reappeared and was called Commedia dell'arte. Performances spread quickly throughout Europe, settling in Paris, France and eventually England. The set stars in these productions included Pagliacio and Arlecchino. This art form communicated across language barriers, since presenters did not have to speak the local language.
Commedia Dell'arte
While Commedia dell'arte continued to thrive in the 18th century, pantomime made a profound impact on high society. By 1715, rules relaxed and pantomimes displayed more natural expressions in greater freedom. Johann Jacob Engel wrote the Mimic in 1786, incorporating the idea that silent gestures rather than speech expressed the true inner spirit of the individual.
Joseph Grimaldi's Influence
In the 19th century, the popularity of England's Royal Ballet limited pantomime to the circus world. Joseph Grimaldi emerged as one of the founders of early clowning, incorporating pantomime in many of his routines. In England, a tradition emerged limiting pantomime performances to Christmas time. Optional forms of pantomime appeared, including Henriette Hendel-Schutz's "living picture," Jacques Lecoq's gymnastics, and Jean-Gaspard Deburau's staff fighting moves.
Combination of Pantomime with Acrobatics and Dance
Many individual artists developed their craft in the 20th century, combining pantomime with other art forms. Carl Godlewski demonstrated features of pantomime, circus acrobatics and dance. Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin used pantomime skills in theater as silent films appeared on the theater scene. Etienne Decroux formed the first pantomime school in Paris in 1930. Eventually, Marcel Marceau surfaced from the school and popularized the solo pantomime performance. In the 1970s, dance troupes formed and were instrumental in performing pantomime collectively.
