Quick Facts
- Born:
- c. 1680, Paris, Fr.
- Died:
- 1741, Paris
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Françoise Prévost
French ballerina
Françoise PrĂ©vost (born c. 1680, Paris, Fr.âdied 1741, Paris) was a French ballerina, the leading dancer of her generation. Her precision, lightness, and grace helped establish the technique of classical ballet; she was also noted for her mime and dramatic ability.
PrĂ©vost made her debut at the Paris AcadĂ©mie (now OpĂ©ra) in Atys and later succeeded Marie Subligny as premiere danseuse. Her performance with Jean Balon in 1708 in Les Horaces, an early dance pantomime based on Pierre Corneilleâs play Horace, is said to have moved the audience to tears. After retiring from the OpĂ©ra in 1730, she was replaced as leading female dancer by her students Marie Camargo and Marie SallĂ©.
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