Ballet firsts and records

The first ballet

In the late 16th century, performances that included dancing l, music and acting were given at the French court of henril II and Catherine de Medici , the ballet comique de la reine (1581) was the first recorded.

First professional balletarina

On 21 January 1681 mademoiselle de la fontaine appeared in jean baptiste lully's the triumph of love at the Paris opêra.

First ballet in the USA

On 7 February 1827 francquy hutin performed a ballet in the play the deserter at the Bowery theatre, New York. The women in the audience were Soo shocked by it that they fled from theatre

First tutu/first on points

Ballerina Maria tagloni (1804-84) wore a Muslim dress known as a tutu when she danced in la sylaphide at the Paris opéra on 12 March 1832. The dress allowed more freedom of movement so became popular in classical bullet. In the same ballet she danced on point without support - the first time any dancer had done so.

Most curtain calls for a ballet performance

In October 1964 Margot fentalyn and Rudolf nureyev received 89 curtain calls after performance in Sean lake at the staarsoper, in Vienna, Australia.

Most pirouttes

Delia gray (15) performed 166 consecutive turns at the playhouse, Harlow, Essex, UK, on 2 June 1991.