Throwback Thursday and Marie Taglioni’s Narrow Escape

Throwback Thursday and Marie Taglioni’s Narrow Escape

The hazards faced by dancers are numerous, even today.  But it was even worse many years ago.  The gas-jet lighting used back- in-the-day was probably the biggest threat, and it proved fatal for far too many young dancers.  But there were other problems, like this one faced by Marie Taglioni (reputed to be the “inventor” of the pointe shoe).

According to author Dr. L. Véron in Mémories d’un Bourgeouis de Paris, Marie Taglioni was performing in Robert Le Diable, when she came close to becoming a statistic.  During the Ballet of the Nuns in third act, a cloth appeared from below and ascended toward the flies, being attached to a beam by numerous wires.  But something went wrong and suddenly the whole operation came loose and came crashing to the floor.  Marie Taglioni, who was stretched out in her “tomb” had just enough time to resurrect herself and jump to safety.

Another interesting factoid:  Ballet of the Nuns is considered to be the world's first white ballet. 

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Dance History Factoid #9:  

“Marie Taglioni had a narrow escape during a performance of Robert Le Diable.”

 

                Link of the Day:

A restaging of the Ballet of the Nuns by a student group:     

                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4k46ittWd0

 

Quote of the Day:

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything.  You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.

 

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