Marius petipa biography youtube

As an avid collector of ballet literature, I happened upon these facts while sentimentally browsing an old Royal Ballet program, with a wonderfully written article on The Nutcracker by dance historian, Roland Wiley. And yet, that Petipa had not choreographed The Nutcracker because he was bedridden, and that the ballet initially received a lukewarm reception, was news to me.

Marius petipa was one of the most influential duolingo

The father of Russian ballet was born in Marseille, France, in The Petipa family was renowned as performers: father Jean was a ballet dancer and rehearsal director, and mother an actress. Petipa was a premier danseur in France and then later Spain, where he gained knowledge of the national dances. It was during this period in Madrid that Petipa rose to notoriety, after performing an on-stage kiss in a production staged by his father.

Later, after much public out-cry, the kiss was restored. Petipa was now a household name. Much like Basilio from Don Quixote , Petipa was a passionate, strong-willed young man, who was not intimidated by punitive 19th century attitudes.

How did marius petipa change ballet

His memoirs recount an outrageous incident, of Jane Austen ilk, which almost ended his career. It was over a beautiful young Spanish lady of high station, Carmen Mendoza y Castro, who had fallen salaciously in love with the celebrity dancer. Soon after, Petipa and Carmen eloped, Romeo and Juliet style, to France, before they were found, arrested, and returned to their respective families.

And the rest, as they say, is history. This colourful, passionate artist would become the star of Russian ballet. The French man had found a new home in Russia and added Ivanovich as his middle name to reflect his allegiance.