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Marie Taglioni, the First to Float

A look at Marie Taglioni's groundbreaking role in dance and performance art.

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importance: 5/10

Marie Taglioni

Photo of Marie Taglioni
BornApril 23, 1804
NationalityItalian-Swedish
Romantic Ballet Dancer
FieldsBallet, Performance Art, Choreography
Known for
  • Pioneering dancing en pointe
  • Star of *La Sylphide*
  • Icon of the Romantic ballet era
  • Revolutionizing ballerina aesthetics

About Me

Marie Taglioni, Comtesse de Voisins (23 April 1804 – 22 April 1884) was a Swedish-born ballet dancer of the Romantic ballet era partially of Italian descent, a central figure in the history of European dance. She spent most of her life in the Austrian Empire and France. She was one of the most celebrated ballerinas of the romantic ballet, which was cultivated primarily at Her Majesty's Theatre in London and at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique of the Paris Opera Ballet. She is credited with (though not confirmed as) being the first ballerina to truly dance en pointe. Marie Taglioni, Comtesse de Voisins (23 April 1804 – 22 April 1884) was a Swedish-born ballet dancer of the Romantic ballet era partially of Italian descent, a central figure in the history of European dance. She spent most of her life in the Austrian Empire and France. She was one of the most celebrated ballerinas of the romantic ballet, which was cultivated primarily at Her Majesty's Theatre in London and at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique of the Paris Opera Ballet. She is credited with (though not confirmed as) being the first ballerina to truly dance en pointe.

Citation

Cited as:

Yotam, Kris. (Jul 2025). Marie Taglioni, the First to Float. krisyotam.com. https://krisyotam.com/blog/ballet/marie-taglioni-first-to-float

Or

@article{yotam2025marie-taglioni-first-to-float,
  title   = "Marie Taglioni, the First to Float",
  author  = "Yotam, Kris",
  journal = "krisyotam.com",
  year    = "2025",
  month   = "Jul",
  url     = "https://krisyotam.com/blog/ballet/marie-taglioni-first-to-float"
}