Beretta, Caterina (1839–1911)

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Beretta, Caterina (1839–1911)

Italian ballet dancer and teacher. Name variations: also seen erroneously as Catarina Beretta. Born 1839 in Milan, Italy; died Jan 1911 in Milan.

Studied at Teatro alla Scala school of dance in Milan and performed with the company throughout her career; danced in numerous works by Pasquale Borri, including Rodolfo (1858) and Fiamella (1866); performed in premiere productions of Lucien Petipa's Rilla, ossia la Fête de Provence (1855), Paul Taglioni's Léonilda (1869), and Hyppolyte Monplaisir's Brahma (1870); served a directorship at Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg for short period (1877); taught classes at school of Teatro alla Scala for many years, for such students as Ria Teresa Legnani and Marie Giuri, who later danced Swanilda in US premiere of Coppélia at Metropolitan Opera.