Ballet dancer and teacher, born in Paris, France. He made his debut at the age of 12, going on to join the Paris Opéra. His brilliant virtuoso technique and energy led him to become the most celebrated dancer in Europe. The French Revolution (1789) drove him to London for four years, but he returned in 1793 to continue dancing in Paris until 1816. He then became renowned as a teacher, his pupils including Auguste Bournonville.
Marie-Jean-Augustin Vestris, known as Auguste Vestris (27 March 1760 - 5 December 1842) was a French dancer.
Born in Paris as the illegitime son of Gaëtan Vestris and of Marie Allard, he was surnamed the "le dieu de la danse", (The god of dance). Since then, this passage of the comic opera of Grétry, Panurge dans l'île des lanternes, was known as the gavotte of Vestris.
After his retirement he trained many famous dancers of the 19th century including Marius Petipa, Lucien Petipa, Fanny Elssler, Jules Perrot, and Marie Taglioni.
His son Armand was also a dancer and danced with his cousin Charles Vestris.
User Comments Add a comment…