Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-08-20
BALLET DANCERS.
some of the Most Famous Have Lived
to Re septuagenarians.

to He Septua genartans-
The longevity of the ballet dancers
evidently has more substantial fonn-
dation than the jokes OF the humor-
lists who have found so much TO
amuse them in the persistency with
which the premieres cling to their
profession. A European statistieian
has been deyoting himself TO a study
of the eminent In that art, and his
Investigations seem to establish the
fact that they are an unusually long
lived lot. The famous Carlotta Grisi
is living now at the age OF II, ana
one OF the ballet dancers at the Opera
in Paris is 20, But he is man.
Amaiia Ferraris Is still teaching at
the age of rs in Paris, and seems
likely TO continue that work for some
time to come. Fanny Essler was "a
when she died. and Taglioni had
passed her eightieth year Rosita
Mauri. the popular premiere at the
Opera In Paris. is over 80 and has be-
gun to talk of retiring Some OF the
more famous dancers of earlier times,
commencing with the first OF the pro-
fession, succeeded in reaching the fol-
lowing ripe ages: Pecourt Tb; La
Camargo, so: Noyerre, SO; Nestrls, the
elder, 10: La Guimard, 63. Gardei,
50; vestris, the junior, 50, Mazlller,
II; Blasts. 20; Perrot. So La cerito,
one of the greatest fayorites OF her
day in Paris, and much admired once
in this country, is living In retirement
in Paris at the age OF Is. The oldest
In this list was Noyerre. who stood
among the greatest in the art during
the middle OF the eighteenth century.
Compared with these veterans our
own Bonfani. who is teaching now in
this city, seems I'm the first flush OF
her powers. The only ballet dancers
who come to this couutry In these
days are not likely to be long remem-
bered. There are very few OF them
and those we sec are not eminent. Nor
are they much appreciated. The prac-
teal disappearance OF the old-fash-
toned spectacular plays has resulted
in the passing OF the premiere. After
these pieces ceased to have their In
terest for New Workers they remained
popular ION the road. and there we're
always several OF these companies
travelling about and presenting one
or two well-trained European dane
ers. But they have also come to al
end. and with them the tarletan splr-
tied pirouetters dropped ilnally out o.
sight The ballet at the opera house
has always been a makeshsit, and
since Malyina Cayalazzl danced here
few. II any. OF the premleres have
been artists OF reputation She re-
turned to London continued TO APP
pear as a pantomimlst after sickness
prevented her from dancing and Is
today teacher of dancing In London.
Several of her pupils came to New
York with Col. Mapleson two years
ago. The only dancers OF reputation
left here now are women who came
when the ballet as an adjunct TO the
spectacle. was popular. and that was
long enough ago to entltle some Of
them to place in the statistician's
list. IL they had ever been famous
enough. Those that are known here
and mentioned among the veterans
danced in the country many years ago
at a time In which the solo dancer. as
an interlude to plays and operettas,
was as highly appreciated as she was
in Europe. But that was In the early
days of New York's history rs an
amusement centre.