Marietta Zanfretta

As a child she had received tightrope, acrobatic and ballet training, performing with her parents and siblings in circuses in Europe including in Franconi's Theatre in Paris.

She quickly became popular with audiences because of her beauty, charm and skill on the tightrope on which she performed en pointe in addition to doing pirouettes and somersaults.

With the Zanfretta Troupe she also performed in a number of circuses across the United States including in an equestrian act in which she danced and balanced on the back of a horse as it circled the ring.

The design given on this page was sketched for us by Mr. Champney, from one of the proscenium boxes of the Boston Theatre, during the performance of Marietta Zanfretta, now attached to the Ravel Troupe, and one of the greatest female tight-rope dancers in the world.

The first sight of her performances creates an uneasy sensation of extreme danger, but her perfect aplomb and self-possession soon banish that feeling, and your anxiety is lost in admiration of the witching and wonderful display.

Undoubtedly the extraordinary skill of Zanfretta is owing partly to her coming of a race of rope-dancers, for aptitude for particular exercises is unquestionably transmissible, and it is very possible to be "to the manor born.

Gilbert R. Spalding and Charles J. Rogers at the Bowery Theatre in New York[6] and appeared on the road for them in 1861, when she was billed as: 'Senorita Marietta Zanfretta, the Venetian rope dancer, and most brilliant star of the Ravel Troupe, during their last visit to America.

This talented young lady exhibits in remarkable degree the grace, beauty and elegance, for which the belles of her native country have long been celebrated, while her wonderful exploits upon the tight rope, without the aid of balance pole, baffle description, and have challenged the admiration of assembled thousands in the theatre of the old and new world.

'[7] In Leavenworth in Kansas where the local newspaper described her as "a miracle of grace and skill on the tight rope", such was her charm that even when performances went awry the audience applauded.

[14] Later she formed her own family troupe with her daughter and adopted sons and continued to perform in public until 1880, with her last appearance being with Orrin Bros.’ in Havana[2] during which she had a fall, which convinced her the time had come to give up her acrobatic career.