Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo

Background

Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo was born in Brussels on the 15th of April 1710. Her father, Ferdinand Joseph de Cupis, earned a scanty living as violinist and dancing-master, and from childhood she was trained for the stage.

Career

At ten years of age Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo was given lessons by Mile Franfoise Prevost (1680 - 1741), then the first dancer at the Paris Opera, and at once obtained an engagement as premibre danseuse, first at Brussels and then at Rouen. Under her grandmother's family name of Camargo she made her Paris dibut in 1726, and at once became the rage. Every new fashion bore her name; her manner of doing her hair was copied by all at court; her shoemaker-she had a tiny foot- made his fortune. She had many titled adorers whom she nearly ruined by her extravagances, among others Louis de Bourbon, comte de Clermont. At his wish she retired from the stage from 1736 to 1741.

Achievements

• In her time Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo appeared in seventy-eight ballets or operas, always to the delight of the public. She was the first ballet-dancer to shorten the skirt to what afterwards became the regulation length.

Connections

Father:

Ferdinand Joseph de Cupis

Mother:

Marie-Anne de Smet