Marie Taglioni (1804-1884)
Marie Taglioni was known for her scandalous and rebellious actions that were looked down upon in the dancing world during the 19th century. She was the first dancer to dance with pointe shoes, slippers allowing dancers to balance on the tips of their toes with ease and smoothness, and helped perfect the new style of ballet to what we know it as today. She was best known for her performance in La Sylphide, one of the oldest dances performed in the Romantic Era. Her father, Filipino Taglioni wrote it, among many other famous ballet productions written at the time.
At first rejected by the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg (and the dancing world just in general), her father agreed to train her privately. But after her performance in La Sylphide, ballet schools finally began recruiting her. She attended the Imperial Ballet School, then, for 56 years. She practiced hours upon hours a day with little breaks. Her devotion to the art probably is what made her into the icon she is known for today in the art of ballet.
Picture cited: dance-enthusiast.com
At first rejected by the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg (and the dancing world just in general), her father agreed to train her privately. But after her performance in La Sylphide, ballet schools finally began recruiting her. She attended the Imperial Ballet School, then, for 56 years. She practiced hours upon hours a day with little breaks. Her devotion to the art probably is what made her into the icon she is known for today in the art of ballet.
Picture cited: dance-enthusiast.com