Jean Dauberval

Lithograph of Jean Dauberval, Paris, circa 1790

Jean Dauberval, a.k.a Jean D’Auberval, (born Jean Bercher in Montpellier, France on 19 August 1742; and died in Tours, on 14 February 1806), was a French dancer and ballet master. He is most noted for creating the ballet, La Fille mal gardée, one the most enduring and popular works of the ballet repertoire.

Dauberval was trained at the school of the Paris Opéra where he studied under the great Jean-Georges Noverre. He was appointed premier danseur of the ballet of the Académie Royale de Musique in 1763, and, in 1771, he was named ballet master. From 1781 until 1783, he was engaged as maître de ballet to the Académie.

In 1783, Dauberval moved to Bordeaux, where he accepted the post of maître de ballet to the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, a position he held until 1791. In 1789, Dauberval created his most enduring ballet, La Fille mal gardée, in which his wife, the dancer Marie-Madeleine Crespé, who is known to history as Madame Théodore, created the role of Lison. (The role is known as "Lise" today.)

Noted works

• Le Déserteur (1785)
• Le Page inconstant (based on La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais, 1787)
• Psyché et l'Amour (1788)
• La Fille Mal Gardée (1789)
• Télémaque dans l'île de Calypso (1797)

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Name	Dauberval, Jean
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Date of birth	19 August 1742
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Date of death	14 February 1806
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