Auguste Vestris
Marie-Jean-Augustin Vestris, known as Auguste Vestris, was a French dancer.
He was born in Paris, the illegitimate son of Gaétan Vestris and Marie Allard. His father was a Florentine dancer who had joined the Paris Opéra in 1748, his mother was a French dancer in the same theatre. He was dubbed "le dieu de la danse",, a popular title bestowed on the leading male dancer of each generation.
He made his debut at the Paris Opéra in the third divertissement of the pastorale La Cinquantaine in 1772 and was immediately recognized for his talent. He was accepted as a regular member of the troupe in 1775, became a soloist in 1776, a "premier danseur" in 1778, and finally he was appointed "premier sujet de la danse" in 1780, holding this rank in the corps de ballet for the next 36 years.
, ca 1781
After his retirement he trained many famous dancers of the 19th century including August Bournonville, Marius Petipa, Lucien Petipa, Fanny Elssler, Jules Perrot and Marie Taglioni. It was with Taglioni in 1835 that he performed a minuet at the age of 75.
Auguste Vestris is not to be confused with his son, Armand Vestris, who married the English actress-manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris in 1813. Both Armand and a cousin Charles Vestris, son of a brother of Auguste's, were also dancers.
