Throwback Thursday and Roland Petit
Born on the outskirts of Paris on January 13, 1924, Roland
Petit was the son of a restaurant owner. At his father’s establishment he met
many talented artists of the day, such as Jean Cocteau and Henri Sauguet among
others. This exposure probably helped influence his later choreography.
Roland Petit began his training at age nine at the Paris
Opera Ballet School, where he first met his future wife, Renée "Zizi"
Jeanmaire (they married in 1954). Also nine years old, she was a student there
as well.
He joined the company in 1940, but at age twenty he
resigned. He went on to form his own company, Les Ballets de Paris and during
its first season he choreographed for Margot Fonteyn. They had a brief love
affair, and remained friends until Fonteyn’s death in 1991.
Petit’s choreography often featured props and mime, and he
used angular and acrobatic movements. In 1949, he choreographed his biggest
success, Carmen, for Jeanmaire. It was
considered ground-breaking and featured a heroine with cropped hair and a
fierce, aggressive style.
But today Roland Petit may be best known for his work in
film, since his choreography can be seen in Hans Christian Anderson, Daddy Long Legs, The Glass Slipper, Anything Goes, and others.
Jeanmaire announced his death in Switzerland on July 10,
2011.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #84:
“Roland Petit was
a famous choreographer who often created roles for his wife, Renée
"Zizi" Jeanmaire.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
““If you want something new, you have to
stop doing something old.”
― Peter F. Drucker
― Peter F. Drucker
Help expand the knowledge base!
Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas,
or images that worked best for you!
Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:
No comments:
Post a Comment