Auguste Vestris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Auguste Vestris
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Vestris by Thomas Gainsborough, about 1781
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| Born |
Marie-Jean-Augustin Vestris
27 March 1760 |
| Died | 5 December 1842 Paris, France
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| Resting place | Montmartre Cemetery |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Dancer Choreographer |
| Children | Armand |
| Parent(s) | Gaetano Vestris Marie Allard |
Auguste Vestris (born Marie-Jean-Augustin Vestris on March 27, 1760 – died December 5, 1842) was a very famous French dancer and choreographer. He was known as one of the best male dancers of his era.
Contents
Life and Early Career
Auguste Vestris was born in Paris, France. His father, Gaetano Vestris, was also a famous dancer. His mother was Marie Allard, a talented dancer too. Auguste learned to dance from his father.
He made his first public performance in 1772. This was in a short, entertaining dance piece called La Cinquantaine. The next year, he had a big success. He played the role of Amor in his father's ballet, Endymion.
Rising to Fame in Paris
Vestris became a soloist at the Paris Opéra in 1776. A soloist is a dancer who performs alone. By 1778, he was a premier danseur, which means a top male dancer. In 1780, he became a premier sujet de la danse, an even higher title.
He performed in important ballets and operas. These included the first show of Jean-Georges Noverre's Les Petits Rien. He also danced in Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera Alceste.
Success in London
In 1780, Vestris began working at the King's Theatre in London. He became very popular there. He performed in London for over ten years. He also created several ballets for the theatre.
Some of his ballets included The Nymphs of Diana (1781) and Le Premier Navigateur (1786). He also choreographed dances for an opera called L'Épreuve villageoise (1786). Another famous work was Les Folies d'Espagne (1791). Auguste and his father were so famous that even the British Parliament would stop its meetings to watch them dance. Auguste had a son named Armand.
Teaching and Later Years
Auguste Vestris taught many dancers who later became very famous. His students included Marius Petipa, Fanny Elssler, August Bournonville, Marie Taglioni, and Jules Perrot. These dancers went on to have huge careers.
Vestris stopped dancing at the Paris Opéra in 1816. But he made a special appearance in 1835. At 75 years old, he danced a minuet (a type of slow, graceful dance) at the Opéra with Marie Taglioni. He passed away in 1842. He is buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.
Dancing Style and Personality
Auguste Vestris was known for his amazing jumps and turns. He had incredible skill and technique. He could jump very high, which dancers call "elevation." He was also known for being a bit proud and sometimes difficult. However, the Opéra kept him for 35 years because of his incredible talent.
Images for kids
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Print of Auguste Vestris dancing
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Auguste Vestris, by Thomas Gainsborough, ca 1781
See also
In Spanish: Auguste Vestris para niños
