Who was Enrico Cecchetti

Maestro Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928)

Born in Italy in 1850, Enrico Cecchetti was a brilliant virtuoso dancer who went on to become the leading teacher of his generation. As guest artist with the Imperial Russian Ballet, he created the role of “The Bluebird” in The Sleeping Beauty. As a teacher in Russia, his many famous students included Anna Pavlova and Vaslov Nijinksy. With Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes he worked with Marie Rambert and Ninette de Valois, the founders of British ballet. His successor, Margaret Craske, passed on the Cecchetti method to numerous dancers and teachers in New York while on the staff of Ballet Theater.

Because of it’s continuity, ability to promote longevity in dance, and emphasis on classical lines, the Cecchetti Method is highly respected and now taught Internationally.

The legacy of the Cecchetti teachings has continued to grow. Among the many dancers influenced by Cecchetti were: Anna Pavlova; Vaslav Nijinksy; Tamara Karsavina; Dame Ninette de Valois (Royal Ballet of England); Dame Marie Rambert (Ballet Rambert); Gisella Caccialanza (New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet); Vincenzo Celli, Luigi Albertieri, Dame Alicia Markova, and Margaret Craske (Metropolitan Opera Ballet); Luba Egorova and Olga Preobrajenska (who taught in Paris); Serge Lifar (Paris Opera Ballet); Betty Oliphant (National Ballet of Canada); Molly Lake (Ankara Ballet of Turkey); Adolf Bolin (San Francisco Opera Ballet and Chicago Lyrical Ballet); Mikhail Mordkin (American Ballet Theatre); George Balanchine (New York City Ballet); Dame Peggy Van Praagh (Australian Ballet); Dulcie Howes (University of Cape Town, South Africa, also known as C.A.P.A.B. Ballet Co.). The list is endless. Cecchetti USA will continue it’s goal of perpetuating the Cecchetti Method through seminars, conferences, summer schools and examinations, and by providing guidelines and standards for achievement in classical ballet training.

Source: Cecchetti USA