Legnani, Pierina (1863–1923)
Legnani, Pierina (1863–1923)
Pierina Legnani made her debut at La Scala, Milan, and then appeared with some success in Paris, Madrid, and London. It was in Russia, however, that she found fame. While performing with the Imperial Ballet at the Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in 1893, in the ballet The Tulip of Haarlem, she executed 32 consecutive fouettés, for the first time in the history of the Imperial Ballet, earning her the title "Prima Ballerina Assoluta." Legnani remained at the Russian theater for the next eight years, and her
amazing athletic accomplishments spurred Russian dancers to aspire to technical brilliance. Wrote Agnes de Mille : "Legnani could perform an entire thirty-two bar adage on full point standing in the center of the floor without support. Her turn-out was so complete that she could balance a glass of vodka on the flat of her ankle while revolving in second position." While in St. Petersburg, Legnani danced as Odette in Swan Lake; she also appeared in Caterina, Coppélia, The Talisman, The Halt of Cavalry, Blue-beard, Camargo, and Raymonda. Following her Russian sojourn, she danced in Italy and France and in some of the Alhambra ballets in London.
sources:
de Mille, Agnes. The Book of the Dance. NY: Golden Press, 1961.