Jean Coralli (1779–1854). French dancer, ballet master and choreographer of Italian descent

Jean Coralli was born into a Bolognese family who lived in Paris. His father worked at the Théâtre Italien and Jean attended the Paris Opéra Ballet School. He made his dancing debut in Vienna in 1802 and worked in various countries before returning to Paris to become ballet master at the Théâtre de Porte-Sainte-Martin. This was a fruitful and innovative time for him and he choreographed many works there. In 1831 he moved to the Paris Opéra and it was here, with his friend from Porte-Martin, Jules Perrot, and the composer Adolphe Adam, that the most famous and long-lasting Romantic ballet of all was created in 1841.

Giselle was both the pinnacle of Romantic ballet and the pinnacle of Coralli’s career. Although dozens of ballets were created all over Europe by a range of choreographers in a 30-year frenzy, the bubble eventually burst. Giselle, however, was to capture the hearts and minds of both public and dancers alike for centuries to come. Coralli died in Paris in 1854, only four years after retiring from the Opéra.