La Sylphide
Emma Livry and Louis Mérante in La Sylphide. A student of Marie Taglioni, Livry became one of the final stars of the Romantic ballet era.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ La Sylphide premiered in Paris in 1832 and is considered one of the first great Romantic ballets.
✦ Marie Taglioni created the title role, helping establish the image of the ethereal Romantic ballerina.
✦ The original 1832 choreography has been lost, but August Bournonville's 1836 Danish version survives and is still performed today.
✦ A sylph is a mythical spirit of the air, inspired by European folklore and Romantic literature.
✦ La Sylphide helped shape the supernatural themes, white costumes, and dreamlike atmosphere that became hallmarks of Romantic ballet.
Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide (1845). Her ethereal portrayal of the Sylph became one of the defining images of Romantic ballet and inspired generations of dancers.
S U M M A R Y
Few ballets became cornerstones of the Romantic era, and even fewer have lasted for nearly 200 years; La Sylphide is one of them. The story follows James, a young Scotsman who becomes fascinated by a mysterious Sylph, a magical spirit of the air. On the morning of his wedding, James abandons his fiancée to follow the enchanting creature into the forest, beginning a journey that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
Emma Livry in La Sylphide (1862), portraying the mysterious wingless spirit whose role helped define Romantic ballet.
Joaquín De Luz in La Sylphide. James's choice between earthly happiness and an impossible dream lies at the heart of the ballet's story.
The ballet premiered in Paris in 1832 and helped define many of the qualities associated with Romantic ballet. Audiences were captivated by its supernatural themes, ethereal white costumes, and the illusion of dancers floating effortlessly across the stage. The original version was created for Marie Taglioni, whose portrayal of the Sylph became one of the most celebrated performances in ballet history. Although that original choreography has been lost, August Bournonville's 1836 Danish version survives and remains widely performed today.
More than a love story, La Sylphide explores the dangers of pursuing an unattainable ideal. James must choose between the real world and a beautiful dream, only to discover that some things cannot be possessed. Nearly two centuries after its premiere, the ballet continues to enchant audiences with its poetic atmosphere, delicate dancing, and timeless themes of desire, imagination, and loss.
Fanny Elssler as the Sylph in La Sylphide. The ballet helped establish the ethereal spirit figure as one of the most enduring images of Romantic ballet.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today's Stage
La Sylphide remains one of the oldest ballets still regularly performed. The Bournonville version is especially treasured by the Royal Danish Ballet and continues to be staged by companies around the world.
✦ Iconic Interpreters
Marie Taglioni created the role of the Sylph in 1832 and became one of ballet's first international stars. Later interpreters such as Emma Livry, Ellen Price, and many modern ballerinas helped carry the role across generations.
✦ Legacy
La Sylphide helped define Romantic ballet and introduced the ethereal spirit ballerina that would inspire works such as Giselle. Nearly two centuries after its premiere, it remains one of the most influential and enduring ballets in history.