Pierre Beauchamps was born in 1636 in Versailles, France. His family members were traditionally musicians and dancers who entertained the monarchs of France. He was also a distant cousin to the playwright Jean-Baptiste Moliere, a member of the Mazuel family that also was popular with French royalty. Over several generations, the two families had established a dominant position within the royal court of France. Perhaps most prominent among the Mazuels was a great-uncle to Beauchamps-and great-grandfather to Moliere--named Guillaume Mazuel. Along with violinist Christophe de Beauchamps (an uncle to Pierre Beauchamps), Mazuel was a member of the orchestra of Louis XIII. As the Beauchamps and the Mazuels performed regularly for the king, the influential relationship between the two families and the French monarchy had solidified by the time that Pierre Beauchamps was born.
By early adolescence Beauchamps, with his extraordinary affinity for the dance, had attracted the attention of the royals. As early as January 23, 1648--no more than 11 years old at the time--he appeared on the bill of the Ballet du dereglement des passions, a performance at the Palais Cardinal. He possessed a natural ability for the execution of graceful ballet movements and leaps that defied gravity.
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