Fanny Cerrito

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Cerrito, Fanny (b Naples, 11 May 1817, d Paris, 6 May 1909). Italian dancer. One of the most famous ballerinas of the Romantic era. She studied with Perrot, Blasis, and Saint-Léon. She made her debut at the Teatro Regio in Naples in 1832. For the next twenty years she became a star throughout Europe, appearing in all the major capitals, including—in the 1850s—Moscow and St Petersburg. In Vienna in 1841 she studied and performed with Arthur Saint-Léon, whom she married. She was also a special favourite in London, where she danced many seasons at Her Majesty's Theatre from 1840. A voluptuous, even erotic dancer, she was noted for her strength and fiery personality on stage. She created leading roles in Alma ou La Fille de feu (London, 1842), Ondine (London, 1843), La Vivandière (1844), and Lalla Rookh (London, 1846) and took part in the first productions of the Pas de quatre (London, 1845) and the Le Jugement de Pâris (London, 1846). Her marriage to Saint-Léon (who was also her dancing partner) broke up in 1851 when she became the mistress of the Marquis de Bedmar. From 1847 to 1854 she was at the Paris Opera, where she created the title roles in Mazilier's Orfa (1852) and her own ballet Gemma (1854). In 1855 she appeared at Covent Garden and in 1856-7 at the Lyceum Theatre (where the opera was based after Covent Garden was destroyed by fire). In 1856 she took part in the celebrations in Moscow for Alexander II's coronation. While performing there she was struck by a piece of falling scenery, a fact which could have been instrumental in her decision to retire from the stage the following year. Ironically, for someone who had enjoyed such celebrity, her death in 1909 went unreported in the Paris press.

Fanny Cerrito.

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For other uses, see Cerrito.

Fanny Cerrito, originally Francesca Cerrito (11 May 1817 – 6 May 1909), was an Italian ballet dancer and choreographer.

Born in Naples, she studied under Carlo Blasis and the French choreographers Jules Perrot and Arthur Saint-Léon, to the latter of whom she was married from 1845 – 1851. Notable roles included Ondine and a part in Pas de Quatre (1845).

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