Jean-Georges Noverre

French dancer (1727–1810)

Jean-Georges Noverre (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ ʒɔʁʒ nɔvɛʁ]; 29 April 1727 – 19 October 1810) was a French dancer and ballet master, and is generally considered the creator of ballet d'action, a precursor of the narrative ballets of the 19th century. His birthday is now observed as International Dance Day. His first professional appearances occurred as a youth in Paris at the Opéra-Comique, at Fontainebleau, in Berlin before Frederick II and his brother Prince Henry of Prussia, in Dresden and Strasburg.

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