Taglioni << tah LYOH nee >>, Marie (1804-1884), was one of the most famous ballerinas of the early 1800’s. She was one of the first ballerinas to make toe-dancing beautiful. Her leaps are described as slow flights through the air. To audiences, the grace of her movements made her appear weightless. Her dancing and her acting looked effortless and cool.
Taglioni was born on April 23, 1804, in Stockholm, Sweden. She was rigorously trained by her father, Filippo Taglioni, an Italian dancer and choreographer (dance creator). Her dancing in his ballets, particularly in La Sylphide (1832), helped to bring about the romantic period in ballet that lasted until the 1850’s. Audiences in Europe idolized her. She retired in 1847. Taglioni died on April 22, 1884.
See also Ballet (Romantic ballet).
