Vestris, Gaétan

orig. Gaetano Appolino Baldassare

born April 18, 1729, Florence, Italy

died Sept. 23, 1808, Paris, Fr.

French ballet dancer and teacher.

His style was flamboyant while respecting traditional courtly technique. Vestris later became renowned as the most distinguished teacher of his day. His most celebrated pupil was his son Auguste Vestris.

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▪ French dancer

Italian in full  Gaetano Apollino Baldassare Vestri 

born April 18, 1729, Florence

died Sept. 23, 1808, Paris

      the finest French male ballet dancer of his time.

      With his parents, brothers, and sisters—almost all of whom had careers in the theatre—he went to Paris in 1747 and about a year later, at age 19, entered the Paris Opéra ballet school, studying under Louis Dupré. Vestris danced briefly in the ensemble, was appointed soloist in 1751, and for the next 30 years enjoyed a succession of triumphs in the ballets of Jean-Barthélemy Lany, Pierre Gardel, and Jean-Georges Noverre. Because of his conceited ways, as well as his undisputed gifts, he was called, half ironically, “the god of the dance.”

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