When did Jean Petipa become Maitre de ballet?
In 1834 Jean Petipa became Maitre de Ballet at the theatre in Bordeaux and it was here that Marius completed his education. At the age of sixteen, he became premier danseur at the theatre in Nantes, where he also produced several short ballets.
When did the Pas de deux become part of ballet?
It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the pas de deux become what we know today and that is largely due to the work of Marius Petipa, one of the great and most influential ballet masters of all time. It was during this time that the grand pas de deux became a solidified part of a ballet, showcasing the skills of the best dancers.
What was the name of Petipa’s Pas de deux?
The pas de deux was titled as Le Carnaval de Venise. When Petipa first revived Satanella in 1866, Le Carnaval de Venise was interpolated into the third act of the ballet, where it was retained for many years. The Le Carnaval de Venise lived on long after the full-length Satanella left the Imperial Ballet’s repertoire.
Is the Pas de deux in Satanella still performed?
The Le Carnaval de Venise lived on long after the full-length Satanella left the Imperial Ballet’s repertoire. At one point, Petipa revived the pas de deux for Pierina Legnani and the choreography performed by Legnani, especially for the female variation, appears to have survived to this day.
Why did Petipa go on tour with his father?
Petipa writes in his memoirs that he and his father embarked on a tour to the United States with a small troupe of European dancers led by his former danseuse Eléonore Lecomte. However, this is false because Petipa did not go on this tour, only his father did and Petipa was busy performing in Nantes at the time.
When did Petipa and Minkus perform Don Quixote?
Two years after its world première, Petipa and Minkus mounted Don Quixote for the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg in an expanded edition of five acts and eleven scenes. For the 1871 revival, many changes were made to the libretto. One prime example is that it was in this staging that the roles of Kitri and Dulcinea became a dual role.
How old was Petipa when he started dancing?
His father was a dancer, and Petipa began dancing in his father’s travelling company aged nine. Aged 16 he joined Théâtre Nantes, where he also created a number of ballets. He studied in Paris with Auguste Vestris before going on to work as a dancer around France.
