Baroque dance was perfected in the court of Louis XIV of France, popularly known as the Sun King. A great patron of the arts, Louis himself staged and danced in pageants throughout his life, but only later in his reign, when France was the envy of the world, did the dances and music of his court spread throughout Europe. In the late 1690's, when Louis was nearing 60, his grandson the Duke of Burgundy was betrothed to a young Savoy princess, Marie-Adelaïde. Louis was so enamored of this charming princess that he spared no expense in lavishing her with parties and fêtes. Ballets as well as balls were created for her, and it was at this time that the dance masters of the court, Pecour, Feuillet and Pierre Rameau, perfected and notated the intricate dances and steps as they have come down to us today. Both male and female courtiers were taught dancing from an early age. Many courtiers opted to sing and dance in stage spectacles, but all were expected to shine on the ballroom floor. The typical run of an evening's ball at Versailles, Louis's great palace outside Paris, began with a branle (pronounced brawl) or round dance for everyone. After this came duets, danced by one couple at a time, by members of the court according to their rank. The evening would conclude with everyone dancing in a contredanse, such as an English country dance or a Virginia Reel.