Minette et Lise

Minette et Lise was a sister couple of two Haitian actresses, singers and dancers, two of the most popular in the French colony of Saint Domingue in Pre-revolutionary Haiti. They were consistent of Minette (Port-au-Prince 1767–1789) and Lise (1769–1789); they often performed together, and came thereby to be commonly known as Minette et Lise (Minette and Lise).

Biography

Minette and Lise was born in Port-au-Prince in Saint Domingue in the affranchi. Their father was white, and their mother an affranchie of African origin. The sisters was discovered by Madame Acquarie, an actress and singer of the Port-au-Prince Theatre, who offered them lessons in acting, which they accepted. In 1780, they debuted in the ballet la Danse sur le Volcan. Minette in particular showed talent for singing, and in 25 December 1780, they were contracted at the theatre by François Saint-Martin. In 13 February 1781, Minette performed in the part of Isabelle in the Opera Isabelle et Gertrude.

Though Saint Domingue was a slave society, it was not forbidden for non-whites to work on the stage, and Minette in particular was to be very popular; she rivaled Jeanne-Marie Marsan la Blanche, the prima donna of Cap-Haïtien, though Saint-Martin was criticized by some to "degradate art" by hiring coloured actors. Her career also attracted envy and slander; some was also provoked by her luxurious costumes. Minette and Lise sang in numerous concerts and operas during the 1780s, among them Sylvain, Zémire et Azor, Aucassin et Nicolette, L’Amant jaloux and La caravane du Caire. Lise was not to be as successful as Minette, but also had a good career touring the theatres of Port-au-Prince, Léogâne, Cayes and Saint-Marc after a break through performance in Cayes in 1784.

The sisters are mentioned as the perhaps most popular non-white actors before the revolution. They were also among the first non-white actors on stage.

Minette et Lise were both killed in 1789 under racial riots during the first revolt in Haiti before the Haitian revolution of 1791.

References

• http://www.haiticulture.ch/Minette_et_Lise.html
• http://www.joyousjam.com/jamaicasclassicalmusicians/id8.html
• http://www.africultures.com/index.asp?menu=affiche_article&no=3288

Persondata
Name	Minette
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1767
Place of birth
Date of death	1789
Place of death