Charles Didelot

Charles-Louis Didelot (28 March 1767, Stockholm - 7 November 1837, Kiev) was a French dancer, the creator of the ballet shoes[citation needed] and a choreographer.

He arrived in Saint Petersburg in 1801 at the invitation of the director of the Imperial Theatres and made his debut as the first dancer.

His career as a dancer ended in 1806, following an accident to his leg and the death of his wife, Rose, a brilliant ballerina.

This production featured dancers on wires (flying machines) in order to create the illusion of weightlessness.

In the 1830s a foolish quarrel with the Director of the Imperial Theatres (prince Sergei Gagarin [ru]) led to Didelot's departure from the Imperial troupe; the Frenchman Alexis-Scipion Blache took his place as chief choreographer.