How did Jean-Georges Noverre try to make ballet more dramatic and natural?

Jean-Georges Noverre was a pivotal figure in 18th-century dance who sought to transform ballet into a more expressive and coherent theatrical art form. In his influential treatise, Lettres sur la danse et sur les ballets (1760), he advocated for the following reforms:

• Development of ballet d’action: Noverre championed the ballet d’action, a style of dance where the choreography, set design, and costuming are all strictly subordinate to the plot and theme.12
• Emphasis on Dramatic Motivation: He argued that ballet should prioritize narrative and emotional expression over the mere display of technical virtuosity, which he felt had become overly artificial and conventional.13
• Integration of Mime: To enhance storytelling, he incorporated mime alongside academic dance, ensuring that the movement served a clear narrative and histrionic context.4
• Thematic Focus: He moved away from superficial displays by choreographing subjects rooted in mythology and history, utilizing highly dramatic narrative forms to give the dance greater dignity and meaning.3

By purging ballet of excessive conventions, Noverre established the foundation for modern narrative ballet.3