Pierina Legnani
Pierina Legnani (born September 30, 1863 in Milan , † November 15, 1923 in Milan) was an Italian ballet dancer . She is considered a brilliant technician, due to her skills she became the first Prima Ballerina Assoluta in ballet history.
Legnani received her dance training at the ballet school of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. In 1888 she was accepted into the La Scala ballet company, and in 1892 she was appointed prima ballerina .
In 1893 Legnani moved to the ballet company of the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg , whose ballet director was Marius Petipa . He wrote his own choreographies for the ballerina he called the best dancer of her time or changed choreographies so that Legnani could show her technical skills. For example, 32 fouettés en tournant were inserted into the coda des pas de deux in the 3rd act of Swan Lake , a feat that Legnani alone could do at the time.
In 1901 Legnani ended her career as a dancer and moved back to her hometown of Milan.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Legnani, Pierina |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian ballet dancer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 30, 1863 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Milan |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 15, 1923 |
| Place of death | Milan |