Jean Dauberval French ballet dancer and choreographer Date of Birth: 19.08.1742 Country: France

1. Biography of Jean Bercher d'Auberval
2. Early Career
3. Notable Works
4. Director of the Paris Opera Ballet
5. Bordeaux and Comedic Ballet
6. Later Years

Biography of Jean Bercher d'Auberval

Jean Bercher d'Auberval, also known as Jean D'Auberval, was a French ballet dancer and choreographer, famous for his comedic ballets. He was born into an artistic family, with his father Etienne-Dominique Bercher d'Auberval being an actor at the Comédie-Française. From a young age, Jean showed talent in choreography, and he became a student of Jean-Georges Noverre.

Early Career

Jean D'Auberval received his training at the ballet school of the Paris Opera and made his debut as a dancer in 1761. At the age of 18, he tried his hand at choreography in Turin and later traveled with his teacher to Stuttgart. However, he soon returned to the Paris Opera, where he was appointed as the first dancer in 1763, and later became the ballet master in 1771 after many years as a performing dancer.

Notable Works

One of Jean D'Auberval's most famous ballets is "Les Petits Riens" (The Little Nothings), which was choreographed to the music of Mozart by Noverre. Throughout his career, he collaborated with notable partners such as Marie-Madeleine Crespé, Madeleine Guimard, Marie Allard, Gaetano Vestris, and Auguste Vestris.

Director of the Paris Opera Ballet

From 1781 to 1783, Jean D'Auberval served as the director of the Paris Opera Ballet, succeeding his teacher Noverre. However, he left this position due to disagreements with the management. In 1783, he left the Paris Opera and traveled to Spain before settling in Bordeaux. His partner, Marie-Madeleine Crespé, also known as Mademoiselle Théodore, left the Paris Opera with him, and they officially married that same year.

Bordeaux and Comedic Ballet

In Bordeaux, Jean D'Auberval worked at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux from 1785 to 1791. It was during this time that he fully showcased his talent as a ballet master and creator of comedic ballets. He choreographed his most famous ballet, "La Fille mal gardée" (The Poorly Guarded Girl), also known as "The Ballet of Straw." This ballet, which premiered in 1789, became the basis for several productions under the title "Tщtetnaya predostorozhnost" (Futile Precaution). The storyline revolved around a peasant mother who wanted to marry off her daughter to a wealthy neighbor, but the daughter fell in love with a young impoverished man. The ballet was revived multiple times by other choreographers and remains one of the few ballets from the 18th century that has survived in its original form.

Later Years

Jean D'Auberval's next production was "National Ballet," which declared loyalty to the king and queen. However, it was seen as a betrayal during the revolutionary period, leading to the appearance of Jacobins. Jean and his wife fled to England, where he restaged "The Ballet of Straw" in London. They performed alongside his wife, who played the role of Liza, and Charles-Louis Didelot, who played the role of Colas.

Jean D'Auberval's innovative comedic ballets and contributions to the world of dance continue to be celebrated and appreciated in the history of ballet.