Marie Allard facts for kids
Marie Allard (1742–1802) was a famous French ballerina. She first performed at the Paris Opera in 1761.
Early Life and Training
Marie Allard was born in 1742 in Marseille, France. Her family was not wealthy. When she was 10 years old, she began performing at the Comédie de Marseille. Two years later, her mother passed away. Marie then became the main dancer, known as a première danseuse, at the Lyon opera.
By the age of 14, Marie was working at the Comédie-Française in Paris. She lived in a small apartment there. She started taking dance lessons from a well-known ballet master named Gaétan Vestris. Marie and Gaétan later had a son together, Auguste Vestris, who was born in 1760. Auguste would also become a very famous dancer.
Career at the Paris Opera
In June 1761, Marie Allard made her first appearance at the Paris Opera. She danced in an opera called Zaïs by Jean-Philippe Rameau. The audience loved her performances. In her first ten years at the Paris Opera, she danced in 35 different roles. She was especially praised for her pas de deux (a dance for two people) with Jean Dauberval in a ballet called Sylvie.
Marie Allard and Gaétan Vestris also taught their son, Auguste, how to dance. He grew up to be one of the best male dancers of his time. Marie's career faced some challenges. Her contract was sometimes paused because she was often having children. This affected her ability to perform on stage regularly. As her son's fame grew, Marie's own career began to slow down. The opera committee asked her to retire in 1781.
Later Life
Marie Allard passed away in 1802. She died from a stroke.
