Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jean-Georges Noverre

Role / Field:

Pioneering French dancer and ballet master, creator of ballet d'action.

Born:

1727-04-29

Died:

1810-10-19

Century / Era:

1727s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jean-Georges Noverre (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ ʒɔʁʒ nɔvɛʁ]; 29 April 1727 – 19 October 1810) was a French dancer and ballet master, and is generally considered the creator of ballet d'action, a precursor of the narrative ballets of the 19th century. His birthday is now observed as International Dance Day. His first professional appearances occurred as a youth in Paris at the Opéra-Comique, at Fontainebleau, in Berlin before Frederick II and his brother Prince Henry of Prussia, in Dresden and Strasburg. In 1747 he moved to Strasbourg, where he remained until 1750 before moving to Lyon.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1751, he composed his first great work, Les Fêtes Chinoises for Marseilles. The work was revived in Paris in 1754 to great acclaim. In 1755, he was invited by Garrick to London, where he remained for two years. Between 1758 and 1760 he produced several ballets at Lyon, and published his Lettres sur la danse et les ballets. It is from this period that the revolution in the art of the ballet for which Noverre was responsible can be dated.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Prior to Noverre, ballets were large spectacles that focused mainly on elaborate costumes and scenery and not on the physical and emotional expression of the dancers...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anne Robert Jacques Turgot — Contemporary (Born in 1727) (1727): Pioneering French economist and statesman, advocate for economic liberalism.
• George I of Great Britain — Contemporary (Died in 1727) (1727): First British monarch of the House of Hanover, ruling Great Britain and Ireland.
• Isaac Newton — Contemporary (Died in 1727) (1727): English polymath whose work established classical mechanics and modern science.
• Alexis Soyer — Contemporary (Born in 1810) (1810): Pioneering French chef, writer, and inventor celebrated for his work in Victorian England.
• Andrianampoinimerina — Contemporary (Died in 1810) (1810): Founder of the unified Kingdom of Imerina, a pivotal figure in Malagasy history.
• Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour — Contemporary (Born in 1810) (1810): Leading statesman instrumental in the unification of Italy and Prime Minister of Sardinia.
• Al-Qurtubi — Shared historical date (04-29 · Died) (1273): Polymath jurist and scholar renowned for Tafsir al-Qurtubi in Al-Andalus.
• Albert Hofmann — Shared historical date (04-29 · Died) (2008): Swiss chemist renowned for synthesizing LSD and pioneering psychedelic research.
• Angus Deaton — Shared historical date (10-19 · Born) (1945): Influential economist specializing in poverty, inequality, and consumption analysis.
• Benjamin Banneker — Shared historical date (10-19 · Died) (1806): Self-taught polymath, surveyor, and advocate for racial equality in early America.
• 1727 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1727
• April 29 (04-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 29
• 1810 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1810
• October 19 (10-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Jean-Georges Noverre