Donne “compositrici” di balli pantomimi in Italia fra Sette e Ottocento
Women “Composers” of Pantomime Ballets in Italy Between the 18 th and 19 th Centuries

Summary/Abstract: This paper describes some aspects of the lives and artistic activities of Anna Binetti, Maria De Caro, and Giovanna Campilli, “prima ballerinas” who lived between the second half of the 18 th century and the beginning of the 19 th century. This research aims to highlight how these personalities practised as choreographers at a time when this profession was principally a male prerogative. Through the analysis of ballet programmes and contemporary sources, this paper investigates an area that has been little explored in the studies of the history of dance that is, the female presence as an “artistic subject” in the theatre of Italian dance. Thus, this phenomenon is contextualised in the broader cultural landscape of the time and focuses on three case studies of women choreographers who, whilst isolated in their extraordinariness, often converged significantly in their performance venues, in particular in Venice and Naples, and in personalities such as Jean-Georges Noverre and Maria Carolina of Austria. What is most interesting is that this approach highlights possible relationship networks and, thus, may open new avenues of research.

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