Léon Espinosa
Encyclopedia
Leon Espinosa Born in The Hague
, Holland of Spanish parents.
Léon Espinosa’s early interest in dance was encouraged by a succession of outstanding teachers including Jean Coralli
, Filippo Taglioni
, and Jules Perrot
during his time at the Paris Opéra Ballet
.
Léon became one of the most extraordinary dancers of his period. He became popular with Paris audiences before moving to Moscow
where he worked with the legendary Marius Petipa
. In 1872 he moved to London
where he continued to dance, while producing at Covent Garden
and many theatres worldwide. He also taught and became a much sought after teacher.
One anecdote has Léon captured by Native Americans
in 1850 when he was on tour in the USA.The Encyclopedia of Dance & Ballet
, it became and remains today the Headquarters of the Organisation. Many famous students studied with Espinosa at Woolborough House, including Phyllis Bedells
and Ninette de Valois
. In 1932 a studio was built alongside the house which has continued to host classes and BBO examinations and provides rehearsal space for many leading dance companies and professional artists.
Léon Espinosa is the father of Edouard Espinosa
, father-in-law of Eve Louise Kelland
, and grandfather of Edward Kelland-Espinosa
and Yvette Espinosa
.
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Holland of Spanish parents.
Léon Espinosa’s early interest in dance was encouraged by a succession of outstanding teachers including Jean Coralli
Jean Coralli
Jean Coralli , born Jean Coralli Peracini, was a French dancer and choreographer and later held the esteemed post of First Balletmaster of the Paris Opera Ballet...
, Filippo Taglioni
Filippo Taglioni
Filippo Taglioni was an Italian dancer and choreographer and personal teacher to his own daughter, the famous Romantic ballerina Marie Taglioni. He is the son of Carlo and father of both Marie and Paul...
, and Jules Perrot
Jules Perrot
Jules-Joseph Perrot was a dancer and choreographer who later became Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia...
during his time at the Paris Opéra Ballet
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
.
Léon became one of the most extraordinary dancers of his period. He became popular with Paris audiences before moving to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
where he worked with the legendary Marius Petipa
Marius Petipa
Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
. In 1872 he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he continued to dance, while producing at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
and many theatres worldwide. He also taught and became a much sought after teacher.
One anecdote has Léon captured by Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
in 1850 when he was on tour in the USA.The Encyclopedia of Dance & Ballet
The Espinosa Family Home
Woolborough House in London was the Espinosa family home from 1913. On the formation of the British Ballet OrganisationBritish Ballet Organisation
The British Ballet Organisation is a dance examination board based in London, England.- Overview :The British Ballet Organisation was founded in England in 1930 by Edouard Espinosa and Louise Kay, both noted dance teachers. It was established as a dance teaching society and developed a syllabus...
, it became and remains today the Headquarters of the Organisation. Many famous students studied with Espinosa at Woolborough House, including Phyllis Bedells
Phyllis Bedells
Phyllis Bedells was an English ballerina and teacher. She studied with Bolm, Cecchetti, and Pavlova. From 1907 she was a dancer at the London Empire Theatre and became the first British prima ballerina there in 1914. She left in 1916 to dance in West End musical revues and in opera ballets at...
and Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
. In 1932 a studio was built alongside the house which has continued to host classes and BBO examinations and provides rehearsal space for many leading dance companies and professional artists.
Léon Espinosa is the father of Edouard Espinosa
Edouard Espinosa
Edouard Espinosa was co-founder and Principal Examiner of the Association of Operatic Dancing. Born in Moscow - the son of Léon Espinosa and Mathilda Oberst...
, father-in-law of Eve Louise Kelland
Eve Louise Kelland
Eve Louise Kelland Born in Sydney, Australia - wife of Edouard Espinosa.Eve Kelland started her theatrical career as an actress and singer. She became organiser and administrator of the British Ballet Organisation, and in 1928 she started , under the name of Louise Kay. Their working partnership,...
, and grandfather of Edward Kelland-Espinosa
Edward Kelland-Espinosa
Edward Kelland-Espinosa son of Edouard Espinosa, founder of the British Ballet Organisation, and his wife Eve Louise Kelland.Following his success as both a performer and teacher, he subsequently devoted his career to developing the BBO and raising the standard of teaching throughout the country...
and Yvette Espinosa
Yvette Espinosa
Yvette Espinosa Born in England - daughter of Eve Louise Kelland and Edouard Espinosa, founder of the British Ballet Organisation.Following her success as a performer and teacher, she joined her brother, Edward Kelland-Espinosa, in devoting her career to developing the BBO and raising the standard...
.