Introduction Origins of Ballet Dance in the 18th Century  18th Century Satire Romantic Ballet  The Cult of the Ballerina The Pas de Quatre Marie Taglioni Classical Ballet 20th Century Revolution  Diaghilev Ballet Diaghilev Ballet after 1918 Nijinsky Anna Pavlova The Establishment of British Ballet  Ballet Rambert The Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet post 1945

Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide

Listen to Marie Taglioni [Download]

Welcome. Welcome…

My name is Marie Taglioni. I wish to introduce to you the story of Ballet on the British Stage.

I was the first international Ballet Star… I was adored across Europe— There were Taglioni caramels, Taglioni cakes, Taglioni hairstyles. But the dearest thing… I must tell you… after my performance in Russia in 1842, a pair of my ballet shoes sold for 200 roubles. They were then cooked in a special sauce, and eaten by a group of my fans. They adored me!

But Ballet started many many years before my birth, in the Royal Courts of Europe. Click on my magical ballet shoe below and we shall begin our journey…

Ballet shoe worn by Marie Taglioni