Marius Petipa became famous as a dancer and choreographer. The renowned master created some of the parties especially for her daughter Maria. She continued the family dynasty, becoming a ballerina, a characteristic soloist of the Mariinsky Theater.
Maria Mariusovna Petipa never officially studied at the choreographic school. Parents studied with their daughter at home, then her teacher was Christian Johanson.
The path to glory
The biography of the future star began in 1857. The child was born on October 17 (29) in St. Petersburg in the family of the famous choreographer Marius Petipa and his wife, prima ballerina Maria Surovshchikova.
From an early age, the girl was taught to perform classical dances. She joined the troupe of the Imperial Theater of St. Petersburg in 1875. On January 12, the young dancer made her debut in the lead role in The Blue Dahlia. The ballet was staged by her father.
The audience enthusiastically greeted the girl's first appearance on the stage. They talked about her not only as a talented dancer, but also as a spectacular, surprisingly feminine and charming artist.
Confession
In 1890, Maria became the first performer of the part of the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. Especially before his daughter Petipa, in 1896, he staged the ballet Halt of the Cavalry to the music of Armheimer.
Very soon Maria switched from classical to character dance. It turned out that in this role she had no equal. For 30 years she remained the leading artist in the troupe. The performer was called one of the most popular ballerinas of her time.
On the stage, the "incomparable interpreter of the whole ethnography" was able to create the psychology and atmosphere of the nationality whose dance was performed. The actress performed divertissement parts every night, sometimes barely having time after one number to go to another theater to show the next dance.
Family and stage
Petipa has successfully toured abroad. She performed in Budapest and Paris, Berlin and London. In February 1901, the twentieth anniversary of the star's creativity by the Directorate of the Imperial Theaters of Russia was awarded the title of Honored Artist. The ballerina was awarded two gold medals.
There is very little reliable information about the prima's personal life. Maria made the dancer Sergei Legat, a partner on stage, as her chosen one. They were together until 1929.
After the departure of her husband from life, Maria regained family happiness a year later. On September 15, 1907, she and engineer Pavel Girard officially became husband and wife. There is no more information about this family.
Outcomes
Stage activity ended in 1907, but until 1912 Petipa periodically performed in private theaters in concerts.
In 1926 Maria Mariusovna left Russia and emigrated to France. For her merits in the field of education, science and art at the Elysee Palace she was awarded the Order of the Academic Palms. In Paris, the celebrity spent the remaining years.
She passed away in 1930, on January 16.
