The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-29
BALLET DANCERS.
Some ~ the Most Famous Have Livsd
to re septusrenarians.

Some - the Most Famous Have Livsd
to he septusrcnarians.
The longevity OF the ballet dancers
evidently has more substantial foun-
dation than the jokes of the humor-
lists who have found 80 much to-
amuse them In the persistency with
which the premieres cling to their
profession. A European statistician
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
Ia living now at the age Of n, and
one of the ballet dancers at the Opera
in Paris Is 20. But he Is man.
Amalia 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 "a
when she died. and Taglioni had
passed ber 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 tho
more famous dancers OF earlier times.
commencing with the first OF the pro-
fession, succeeded In reaching the fol-
lowing ripe ages: Pecourt. 76: La
Camargo. so: Noverre, 83; Vestris, the
elder. 10; La Guimard. SO; Gardel.
So; vestris, the junior. SO; Maztiier.
Il: Blasts. 20; Perrot, So. In Cerito.
one of the greatest favorites 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
I'm this list was Noverre, who stood
among the greatest in the art during
the middle of the eighteenth century.
Compared with these veterans our
own Bonfanti. who IL 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. Mon
are they much appreciated. The prac-
teal disappearance of the old-fash-
ioncd spectacular plays has resulted
in the passing of the premiere. After
these pieces ceased to have their In
|
popular "on the road" and there were
always several OF these companies
travelling about and presenting one
{ or two well-trained European dane
= ers. But they have also come to an
end. and with them the tarletan spir-
tied pirouettors dropped finally out ol
sight. The ballet at the Opera HOUSE
has always been makeshift, ane
e since MaIyina Cavalazzi danced there
few, II any, Of the premieres have
"a been artists Of reputation. She re
70 turned to London, continued to ap
'e pear as a pantomimjst after sickness
~ prevented her from daneipga ana Il
ls today a teacher sof dancing in London
,e Several Of her lpnniis scams TO New
u York with Col. Mapleson two year
y ago. The only dancers OF reputation
w. left here now are women who cam
~ when the ballet. as an adjunct TO tn
Ae spectacle. was popular. and that wa
NC long enough ago to entitle some q
3 them to. a place In the statistician
I" list, IL they had ever 'beens fanou
= enough. Those that are KNOWN her
.e and mentioned among the veteran
y danced in the country many years ag
a. at n time in which the solo dancer,
an interlude to plays and operetta
90 was as highly appreciated as she wa
" In Europe. But that was In the earl
~ DAYS of New York's history as a
amusement centre.