Brianza, Carlotta (1867–1930)

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Brianza, Carlotta (1867–1930)

Italian ballerina. Born in Italy in 1867; died in 1930 in Paris, France, possibly a suicide; studied with Carlo Blasis; godmother of Sonia Woizikowska (a dancer and teacher).

Carlotta Brianza made her debut in 1887 at the Arcadia Theater, St. Petersburg, and was subsequently engaged as a guest artist at the Maryinsky Theater (later known as the Kirov), where she made her debut in Lev Ivanov's Haarlem Tulip. In 1890, she created the role of Princess Aurora in the Petipa-Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty. After leaving Russia in 1891, she danced and taught in Italy and Paris. Her final appearance as a dancer was in Diaghilev's London production of Sleeping Beauty (then called The Sleeping Princess) in 1921.