Lycette Darsonval facts for kids

Lycette Darsonval (born Alice Andrée Marie Perron on February 12, 1912 – died November 1, 1996) was a famous French ballet dancer. She was known for her amazing performances at the Paris Opera.

Biography

Lycette Darsonval was the half-sister of another dancer named Serge Perrault. She started her journey dancing on the streets of Montmartre, a famous area in Paris. At the age of 23, she was noticed and joined the prestigious Paris Opera.

She quickly became one of the most important dancers of her time, taught by the famous Nicola Guerra. In 1940, she was promoted to the rank of "prima ballerina." This was a very high honor for a dancer. The title of "star" (étoile) for dancers at the Paris Opera became official in 1941. Lycette Darsonval and Solange Schwarz were the very first dancers to officially hold this special "star" title.

Two bronze sculptures of Lycette Darsonval, made by Jacques Gestalder, can be seen at the Bettencourt-Schueller foundation in Neuilly-sur-Seine. A portrait of her was also painted by Serge Ivanoff.

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  Learn more about Lycette Darsonval in Spanish!