Charles Le Picq

Charles Le Picq (1744–1806) was an influential French dancer and choreographer.^[1]

Le Picq was a pupil of Jean Georges Noverre (1727–1810), one of the creators of modern ballet (ballet d'action). He was called the Apollo of the dance and performed in many countries, such as France, Austria, Russia and Spain. In the Mozart aria Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo (an alternate aria from Così Fan Tutte), Guglielmo boasts that he and Ferrando dance so elegantly "that Le Picq would bow before us".

His wife was ballerina Guertroude Rossi. His stepson (his wife's son) was the famous architect Carlo Rossi (architect).

In 1787 Charles Le Pic was invited to Russia, to St. Petersburg to head the Imperial ballet. He arrived in St. Petersburg with his wife, who also got an invitation to work in the Imperial ballet, and his stepson.

The family was forever in Russia. The stepson of Charles Le Pic Carlo became the famous Russian architect.

Charles Le Picq was a huge influence on the development of Russian ballet. Thanks to him, the Noverre’ book Letters on the dance (fr: Lettres sur la danse ) are published in Russia (in French) in 1803. He advised in 1801 to invite to Russia the French choreographer Charles Didelot.

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