Catherine de Medici
French Queen of mid 16th century that Balthasar de Beaujoyeux designed Ballet Comique de la Reine for in 1581
Balthasar de Beaujoyeux
Designed the Ballet Comique de la Reine for Catherine de Medici in 1581
Louis XIV
Warrior King" of France during 17th century who expected all nobility to be well-versed in ballet. Moved ballet up onto the stage. Established the first professional ballet company: Academie Royale de la Danse in 1661
Pierre Beauchamps
In 1661, he developed the 5 positions of the feet
Jean-Georges Noverre
He wrote "Letters on Dancing and Ballet" and designed principles to reform expressiveness of ballet
Marie Taglioni
One of the two leading ballerinas in the world at her time (Romantic era) who starred in La Sylphide. She was worshiped for her purity and chastity.
Fanny Essler
One of the two leading ballerinas in the world at her time (Romantic era) who traveled to Russia and the New World
Jules Perrot
He choreographed Giselle with Jean Coralli
Serge Diaghilev
Developed the Ballet Russes with Michael Fokine in 1909 and made ballets much shorter which made the performances more accessible to audiences.
Michael Fokine
Dance master for Ballet Russes whose choreography led to contemporary ballet
Marius Petipa
The "Father of Classical Ballet" who choreographed "Sleeping Beauty" and "Swan Lake" and the Star System.
Vaslav Nijinsky
He had a short career as choreographer for the Ballet Russes, but is still considered the precursor to modern dance.
George Balanchine
He is known as the "Father of American Ballet." He began with the Ballet Russes but left after the death of Diaghilev for America where he founded the American School of Ballet and the New York City Ballet.
Adolf Bolm
He created America's first professional ballet company, the San Francisco Ballet in 1933.
Anna Pavlova
She was a principle dancer for the Imperial Ballet and the Ballet Russes. She starred in Fokine's "Dying Swan.