Throwback Thursday and “The Flying Goddess”
One of the most important and least known ballerinas of the
1700s was Barbara Campanini, also called “La Barberina”, or “The Flying
Goddess”. She was that rare combination
of actress and technician and was particularly known for her petit allegro –
hence the name “Flying Goddess”.
It is rumored that she was mistress to Frederick the Great,
but this may have been simply because he required her to stay unmarried in
order to keep her unusually high salary and five vacation months per year
contract intact. Despite this agreement with the
King, she reputedly had many love affairs.
In 1749, she accepted a marriage proposal from Charles-Louis Cocceji
onstage, thus causing quite a
scandal.
Although von Cocceji was jailed by King Frederick, he
secretly wed his Flying Goddess. Later
von Cocceji was pardoned and the two lived together until they separated in
1759 and divorced in 1788.
Her colorful life was made into a ballet in 1935 by
Maudrik. It was called “Die Barberina”.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #20:
“One of the most important ballerinas of the 1700s was Barbara
Campanini.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
-
George Addair
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