Cavallazzi, Malvina (c. 1852–1924)

views updated

Cavallazzi, Malvina (c. 1852–1924)

Italian ballet dancer and teacher. Born c. 1852, in Italy; died 1924 in Ravenna, Italy.

Made London stage debut (1879); soon joined Mapleson Opera Troupe in New York City; became prima ballerina at Metropolitan Opera of New York (1884); appeared as mime and character performer at Empire Theatre in London in such roles as Antony in Cleopatra (1889) and Dantès in Monte Christo (1896); danced in numerous works by Katti Lanner, including A Dream of Wealth (1889), Cécile (1890), Orfeo (1891) and Versailles (1892); served as director of Metropolitan Opera Company's ballet school (1909–c. 1913), where her students included Eva Swain, Maria Gambarelli and Queenie Smith; retired (1914).

More From encyclopedia.com