Started dancing lessons at the age of nine at the corps de ballet of Vienna, Hoftheater. The Elssler sisters (Fanny and Theresa) studied with Jean-Pierre Aumerand Freiedrich Horschelt.

  Fanny was one of the most celebrated dancers of the Romantic Ballet. At the age of twenty-four she studied with Auguste Vestris and made her professional debut at the Paris Grand Opera in Coralli's ballet La Tempete in 1834. La Gypsy Ballet (three acts) was to bring the sensuously tempting Elssler fame as a dancer and by 1834 Marie Taglioni would be her only competition.

   Elssler made many distinct contributions of the romantic period. Known as the creator of theatrical folk dance (today called character dance) through Ballet. Elssler made famous the Tarentule, Craccovienne (her favorite) and introduced the Cachucha in the ballet Le Diable (1836.) Impresario Henry Wikoff brought Fanny Elssler to America for a successful two-year tour beginning in 1840.

    Fanny would also dance "en Travesti" - Cavalier (mans part) in many of her performances especially famous for this was in the "Minuet de la Cour" with Fanny Cerrito in 1843 in London, who even the Queen came to see. Fanny Elssler danced Faust for her finale performance (retirement) in Vienna 6/12/1851.

  I'm not sure if Fanny ever married, but she was said to be in love with Anton Stuhlmuller and bore him a daughter. Elssler last name is often times mis-spelt as Esler and Essler.