Paul Raymond (1871-1949) originally trained as an actor but soon switched to dancing, becoming a noted character dancer and mime artist at the Paris Opera Ballet, and later a distinguished teacher. His Principes de la Danse Théâtrale, published in 1925, is divided into eight chapters: Etude des Cinq Positions, De la Position des Bras, Exercises à la Barre, Adages et Ports de Bras, Des Pirouettes, Etude des principaux pas chorégraphiques, De la Batterie, and Quelques enchaînements de pas, and provides a detailed and valuable overview of French ballet technique of the period.
The book is illustrated by more than 30 line drawings and foot positions, piano scores are included for many of the exercises, and there are brief anatomical commentaries.
The text is entirely in French.