Born in France, he had to learn Spanish and Russian
to advance his career. He was a
mid-level professional dancer with a talent for seducing women … and being
challenged to duels as a result of his romantic proclivities. In 1847, at just 29 years of age, he found
himself in Russia and everything changed.
On May 12, Icarus Films will be releasing on DVD
documentary filmmaker Denis Sneguirev’s Marius
Petipa: The French Master of Russian Ballet, a
fascinating look at the life of this dancer-turned-choreographer.
110 years after his death, Petipa is regarded as the
father of classical ballet. In 1847 he
left Paris with a one-year contact with the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatre …
he died in St. Petersburg in 1910, an acclaimed master. During this period he collaborated with none
other than Pyotr Tchaikovsky on the productions of such classics as “The
Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker,” plus an 1895 revival Tchaikovsky’s “Swan
Lake.”
Marius Petipa: The French Master of Russian Ballet is
presented in a combination of French, Russian, Italian and English, with
English subtitles where appropriate.
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