De Lafontaine facts for kids

Mademoiselle De Lafontaine (1655–1738) was a famous French ballerina. She is known as the very first professional female ballet dancer in history. This means she was the first woman to make a career out of dancing ballet.

Who Was Mademoiselle De Lafontaine?

Mademoiselle De Lafontaine, also called La Fontaine, was born in 1655 and passed away in 1738. She played a huge part in the early days of ballet. Before her, ballet was mostly performed by men. She helped change that forever.

Dancing for the King

De Lafontaine worked closely with a famous composer named Jean-Baptiste Lully. Together, they helped create a new style of performance called opera ballet. This was a mix of singing, acting, and dancing. They performed at the Paris Opéra in France. Their work was supported by King Louis XIV, who loved the arts.

A Big Step for Women in Ballet

In 1681, something very important happened. De Lafontaine danced in a show called Le Triomphe de l'amour (The Triumph of Love). This was the first time women were allowed to dance in a public ballet performance. She was the main dancer, known as the premiere danseuse. Before this, men would often play female roles in ballet.

Even though the costumes were long and heavy, and ballet moves were simpler back then, La Fontaine was amazing. Her grace and charm were so special that people called her the "queen of the dance."

Her Amazing Performances

Mademoiselle De Lafontaine was a leading ballerina for about ten years. She starred in at least 18 different shows at the Paris Opéra between 1681 and 1693. Some of her famous performances included Persée, Amadis, Didon, and Le Temple de la Paix. After her successful career, she decided to retire and live in a convent.