Charles Didelot
Early Life
Charles-Louis Didelot was born on March 27, 1767, in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Charles Didelot, was a French dancer and dance master who had settled in Stockholm. His mother was a Swedish woman named Maria Beata Didelot. Charles-Louis was the eldest of three children. His younger brother, Jean-Baptiste, also became a dancer.
Career
Charles Didelot began his ballet training under his father's tutelage. He made his debut at the age of nine in the ballet "La Cinquantaine" at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. In 1786, he moved to Paris and joined the Paris Opera, where he quickly rose to the rank of premier danseur.
In 1794, Didelot moved to London and joined the King's Theatre ballet company. He was a principal dancer and also choreographed several ballets, including "Flore et Zéphire" (1796), which was a great success. He is credited with introducing the concept of the "ballet d'action," a ballet that tells a story through dance, to the London stage.
In 1801, Didelot returned to Paris and became the ballet master at the Paris Opera. He continued to choreograph ballets, including "La Sylphide" (1804), "Apollo and Daphne" (1805), and "Psyche" (1808). He also introduced several technical innovations, such as the use of wires to simulate flight in "La Sylphide."
In 1806, Didelot was invited to Russia by the Imperial Theatres to work as a ballet master. He remained in Russia for the rest of his career, except for a brief return to Paris in 1811-1812. He was instrumental in the development of the Russian ballet, introducing the French style of ballet and training many of the early stars of the Russian ballet, including Maria, Ekaterina, and Pavel.
Didelot retired in 1836 and lived in St. Petersburg until his death in 1837.
Legacy
Charles Didelot is considered one of the pioneers of ballet. His innovations in choreography and technique, particularly his use of wires to simulate flight, had a lasting impact on the art of ballet. He is also credited with helping to establish the Russian ballet as a major force in the world of dance.
