Marie Guy-Stéphan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie Guy-Stéphan
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Hand-coloured daguerreotype portrait of a bolero dancer with castanets, c. 1850. The original piece is preserved in the Photo Library IPCE (Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain) in Madrid. It's a whole plate daguerreotype, the maximum size standard. It is a masterpiece of the History of Photography.
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Marie-Antoinette Guy-Stéphan
November 18, 1818 |
| Died | August 20, 1873 (aged 54) Paris, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Dancer |
| Years active | 1843-1851 |
| Dances | Bolero School |
Marie-Antoinette Guy-Stéphan (born November 18, 1818 – died August 20, 1873) was a famous French dancer. She became very popular in Spanish theaters between 1843 and 1851.
Contents
Early Career and Rivalries
Marie Guy-Stéphan first performed in Madrid in 1840. Around 1844, she danced the main role in the very first show of Giselle in Spain. She often performed with another famous dancer, Marius Petipa.
She had a friendly rivalry with Maria Brambilla, who was a top dancer from La Scala in Italy. Later, in the early 1850s, Marie Guy-Stéphan faced another rival, Sofia Fuoco, at Madrid's Teatro del Circo.
A Political Dance-Off
This dance rivalry became quite interesting. Marie Guy-Stéphan was a favorite of Marquis de Salamanca, a very important person. Sofia Fuoco, on the other hand, was favored by General Narvaez, who was also a powerful leader.
So, the competition between the dancers turned into a political one! People who supported General Narvaez and Sofia Fuoco wore red carnation flowers. Those who supported Marquis de Salamanca and Marie Guy-Stéphan showed their support by wearing white carnations. It was a colorful way for people to pick sides!
Later Life and Performances
In 1853, Marie Guy-Stéphan moved back to Paris, France. She made her debut at the famous Paris Opéra in a ballet called Aelia et Mysis. She also performed at other important theaters like Théâtre Lyrique and Théâtre de la Gaîté.
She helped create new roles in ballets, including Néméa, ou l'Amour vengé in 1864. This ballet was created by Arthur Saint-Léon.
Her Legacy in Art
Marie Guy-Stéphan's performances were captured in art. There is a painting by J. H. Lynch that shows her dancing 'Las Boleras de Cadiz'. This was part of a ballet called L'Aurore performed in London in 1843. This painting is now kept at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
An engraving of her dancing in the same ballet also appeared in a magazine called La Ilustración in 1850. There is also a special old photograph, called a daguerreotype, from 1850. It shows a dancer with castanets who is believed to be Marie Guy-Stéphan.
See also
In Spanish: Marie Guy-Stéphan para niños
