Large portions of this manual on the history of dance are borrowed from other sources including Mme Élise Voiart's Essai sur la danse (1823). The author begins with an examination of Greek and Roman dance and continues through the court dances of Louis XII and Catherine de Médicis. The discussion on French theatrical dance includes mention of two well-known ballerinas, Fanny Elssler and Fanny Cerrito. A wide range of Renaissance and Baroque dances is discussed including the gavotte, pavane, sarabande, chaconne, and galliard. This manual is typical of other similar publications in that substantial discussion is given to dance practices in foreign lands including China, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Hungary, and Russia.