Perrot, Jules Joseph

Born Aug. 18, 1810, in Lyon; died Aug. 24, 1892, in Paramé, Ille-de-Vilaine Department. French ballet dancer and choreographer. One of the outstanding choreographers of 19th-century romantic ballet.

Perrot, who studied classical ballet with A. Vestris, made his debut in 1830 in London. From 1830 to 1835 he danced at the Paris Opera, where he partnered M. Taglioni. In 1841 he choreographed Giselle on the ballerina C. Grisi for the premiere of Adam’s Giselle. From 1834 to 1848, Perrot was choreographer at Her Majesty’s Theater in London, where he staged C. Pugni’s Ondine (1843), La Esmeralda (1844), and Catarina, ou la fille du bandit (1846). In 1848 he was invited to St. Petersburg as dancer and maître de ballet

Perrot danced the roles of Pierre Gringoire in La Esmeralda, Diavolino in Catarina, Alain in Adam’s La Filleule des fées, and Mephistopheles in Pugni’s Faust. Each of these ballets was choreographed by Perrot. An outstanding master of romantic ballet, Perrot staged productions on fantastic subjects (Ondine, La Filleule des fées) and ballets in the genre of social-love dramas (La Esmeralda, Catarina). His deep understanding of literature enabled him to create strong, vibrant stage characters and expressive choreography. In 1859, after his departure from St. Petersburg, Perrot retired from the theater.