uHollywood

There is nothing more beautiful than to watch the graceful ballerina glide across the stage, her lithe movements and elegant precision, romanticism at its best. Societal alterations during the nineteenth century allowed this influential form of ballet to be born turning away from the dramatic to the lighter, more delicate, celestial compositions.

Genevieve Gosselin, Fanny Elssler and most notably Maria Taglioni alteredthe style of dance developing fresh techniques. Maria Taglioni was the pioneer of pointework which led to the change from hard shoes to ballet pumps. It was in the role that brought her to prominence La Sylphide which was designed by her father, choreographer Filippo Taglioni, that a ballet was predominantly danced on pointe. She became famous for her ethereal leaps and brilliant arabesques. She changed the ideology, methods, techniques and even the dress in the world of

dance. Her flowing skirt became the modern day tutu. A clever innovator, gifted dancer and exceptional choreographer. She charmed her audiences as principal dancer for the Paris Opera, touring Europe until 1937. She joined the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg until her retirement in 1847. She spent many years after that teaching. A true artisan of artistic perfection.

Anna Pavlova, a connoisseur of the classical style was considered the most renowned ballerina of her time. She trained at the Imperial Ballet School at the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia beginning in 1891. She joined the Imperial Ballet in 1899. She debuted as their prima ballerina in 1906 at the age of 17. She was famous for her performance as the swan in Swan Lake. By 1909 she was touring in Paris with the coveted Ballet Russes. She opened her own school in Hampstead, England in 1912. Her last performance in Russia was in 1913, she spent the rest of her career touring with her own company. Graceful and powerful, an outstanding performer.

Alicia Alonso of Cuban heritage studied her craft in Havana, New York and London. What made this feat so incredible was she had been partially blind since the age of 19 due to an eye disease. Her partners had to be precise and she used the lights on stage to help her. She joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1940, considered a technical master. She founded the Ballet Alicia Alonso in Cuba in 1950 bringing her expertise to her home country. In 1960, it became known as the National Ballet of Cuba with Alicia Alonso as its director and Prima Ballerina Assoluta.