Dauberval was trained at the school of the Paris Opéra where he studied under the great Jean-Georges Noverre.

From 1781 until 1783, he was engaged as Maître de Ballet to the Académie, and in 1783–84 season in London's King's Theatre.

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.

Charles Didelot sometimes referred to as the ''father of the Russian ballet'', and Salvatore Vigano who in Italy, introduced dance-drama were Dauberval's pupils.

[1] During his time, he was admired most for his ability to integrate dramatic action into dance.