Photo of
Marie Despreaux
Marie-Madeleine Guimard (1743-1816) a French dancer who at age 15 joined the corps of the Comedie Francaise, and the Paris opera in 1763. She was also appointed premiere danseuse noble that same year. Guimard danced in many Noverre and Gardelballets, usually as a naive shepherdess. Guimard also had a notorious love-life. She was so slim that she was called "le squelette des graces."