Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-07-29
BALLET DANCERS.
Some Of the Most Famous Have LisSo
TO BE Septuas enarians.

| Some OF tuc mOst 4 AhAo1s ---'~~
to BE septuagenarians.
The longevity Of the ballet dancers
evidently has a more substantial foun-
| 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. European statisticlan
has been devoting 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 n, and
one of the ballet dancers at the Opera
in Paris is 70. But he is man.
AmaIia Ferraris is still teaching at
the age OF 7S in Paris, and seems
likely to continue that work for some
time to come Fanny Essler was IA
when she died, and Taglioni had
passed her eightieth year. Rosita
Mauri, the popular premiere at the
Opera in Paris is over so 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, rs; La
Camargo 60; Noyerre, 83; Vestris, the
elder, 70; La Guimard, 90; Gardel,
81; Vestris, the junior, 80; Mazilier,
II; Blasts, TO- Perrot, 50. La Cerito,
~ 20 Of bor- |
day in Paris, and much admired once
in this country, is living in retirement |
in Paris at the age Of rs. 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 Bonfanti, who is teaching now in
this city, seems in the first flush of
her powers The only ballet dancers
who come to this country in these
days are not likely to be long remem-
bered. There are very few of them
and those we see are not eminent. Nor
are they much appreciated. The prac-
teal disappearance of the old-fash-
iOhtQ oPCNtdSuldi Pioyo AdO lCouiICo
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 were
always several of these companies
about and presenting one
Dr. two well-trained European dane
ers. But they have also come to an
End, and with them the tarletan spir-
ted pirouetters dropped finally out of
sight. The ballet at the opera house
has always been makeshift, and
ince Malvina Cavalazzi danced here
ew, if any, of the premieres have
,een artists of reputation. She re-
urned to London, continued to ap-
'ear as a pantomimist after sickness
her from dancing. and is
oday teacher of dancing in London.
several of her pupils came to New
FORK with Col. Mapleson two years
go. The only dancers of reputation |
eft here now are women who came
1hen the ballet, as an adjunct to the
pectacle, was popular, and that was
ong enough ago to entitle some of
hem to place in the statistician's {
st, if they had ever been famous
nough. Those that are known here
nd mentioned among the veterans
anced in the country many years ago
time in which the solo dancer, as /
n interlude to plays and operettas,
as as highly appreciated as she was !
/ Europe. But that was in the early
avs of New York's history as an {
centre. :