Marie Taglioni Research Paper

Italian born, Marie Taglioni was one of the most influential ballerinas of the 19th century. Known best for her starring role in Le Slyphide, Taglioni’s fragile, delicate quality, and impeccable pointe work epitomized the romantic style that came to define the era.

Taglioni was born in Stockhom to a well -known dance family in 1804 before moving to Vienna at a young age. She began her training with a Parisian teacher who famously called her an ugly duckling and complained, “will that little hunchback ever learn to dance?” By the age of 6, her father Filippo who was a well -known dancer and choreographer had decided to train her himself. For years he put her through six hours of rigorous training a day and in 1822, at the age of 18, she made her debut in Vienna in his ballet La Reception d’une Jeune Nymphe à la Cour de Terpsichore.

Taglioni’s rise to fame came after she

Furthermore, the costuming in Le Slyphide was unlike anything the ballet world had seen. Marie wore a white fitted bodice and bell- like skirt in sylphide, which marked the first appearance of what is now the standard romantic tutu. The skirt was shorter than what was typical for the time and considered highly scandalous, but her father Fillipo wanted to show of her impressive pointe work. This style has remained a typical costume for a classical ballet dancer for more than a century.

Le Sylphide marks a distinct shift in the history of ballet. While men had previously dominated the art form, Taglioni’s break out performance is partially responsible for the rise of the Ballerina. Movement was characterized by soft port de bras, forward tilt of the body, and rounded arm. With a higher skirt levels and higher technical standards, footwork became more elaborate. Additionally the content of ballets began to tend towards the supernatural with powerful women at the center, driving the