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's Fan

In 1845 the four most famous Romantic ballerinas Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito and Lucile Grahn, appeared together on the London Stage in the Pas de Quatre, choreographed by Jules Perrot.

The Pas de Quatre which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London played for only six performances. It was an overnight success and became legendary. The ballet was immortalised in this famous lithograph showing the four star ballerinas of the Romanic era.

The 'Pas de Quatre'

Listen to the original score from the Pas de Quatre. [Download]

Read a contemporary review of the ballet.

'Pas de Quatre' Review