Attilia Radice (1914–1980) was an Italian ballerina at

La Scala La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...

in Milan. She is remembered above all for the roles she created at the

Rome Opera The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma (Rome Opera House) is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat ''Costanzi Theatre'', it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements. The pre ...

Biography

Radice studied ballet at the

La Scala Theatre Ballet School La Scala Theatre Ballet School ( it, Scuola di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala) is one of the leading classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of La Scala Theatre Ballet, an international ballet company based at La Scala in Mi ...

under

Enrico Cecchetti Enrico Cecchetti (; 21 June 1850 – 13 November 1928) was an Italian ballet dancer, mime, and founder of the Cecchetti method. The son of two dancers from Civitanova Marche, he was born in the costuming room of the ''Teatro Tordinona'' in Ro ...

until he died in 1928, whereafter she continued under Lucia Fornaroli graduating in 1932. She joined the La Scala company the same year, making her début in

Léonide Massine Leonid Fyodorovich Myasin (russian: Леони́д Фёдорович Мя́син), better known in the West by the French transliteration as Léonide Massine (15 March 1979), was a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer. Massine created the wo ...

's ''Belkis''. She danced in the ballets of the 1930s including Franco Vittadini's ''Vecchia Milano'' and

Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli (July 10, 1882 – Milan, July 8, 1949) was an Italian composer and pianist of Czech birth. Life and career Born in Strakonice, South Bohemia on July 10, 1882, Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli moved with his family to Milan ...

's ''Il carillon magico''. Thanks to her elegant, expressive style, she soon became the Scala's

prima ballerina A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

. From 1935 to 1957, she danced in the Rome Opera Ballet as

prima ballerina assoluta ''Prima ballerina assoluta'' is a title awarded to the most notable of female ballet dancers. To be recognised as a ''prima ballerina assoluta'' is a rare honour, traditionally reserved only for the most exceptional dancers of their generatio ...

with principal dancer

Guido Lauri Guido Lauri (23 November 1922 – 27 October 2019) was an Italian dancer, actor, choreographer, ballet master, company director. Born in Rome, he entered the ballet school of then Royal Rome Opera House at 6 years-old and in 1939, after a gradu ...

as her partner. Radice created roles in works choreographed by Aurel Milloss including ''Bolero'' and ''The Miraculous Mandarin''. After retiring from the company in 1957, she became director of the ballet school until 1975, where she was effective in adopting Cecchetti's approach. Attilia Radice died in Capranica on 14 September 1980.

Major roles

Radice is remembered for her roles in the following ballets choreographed by Aurel Milloss: *1939: ''

Petrushka Petrushka ( rus, Петру́шка, p=pʲɪtˈruʂkə, a=Ru-петрушка.ogg) is a stock character of Russian folk puppetry. Italian puppeteers introduced it in the first third of the 19th century. While most core characters came from Italy ...

'' *1940: ''

The Creatures of Prometheus ''The Creatures of Prometheus'' (german: Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, links=no), Op. 43, is a ballet composed in 1801 by Ludwig van Beethoven following the libretto of Salvatore Viganò. The ballet premiered on 28 March 1801 at the Burgthe ...

'' *1940: ''

The Rite of Spring ''The Rite of Spring''. Full name: ''The Rite of Spring: Pictures from Pagan Russia in Two Parts'' (french: Le Sacre du printemps: tableaux de la Russie païenne en deux parties) (french: Le Sacre du printemps, link=no) is a ballet and orchestral ...

'' *1941: '' The Prodigal Son'' *1943: ''Bolero'' *1947: ''

Orpheus Orpheus (; Ancient Greek: Ὀρφεύς, classical pronunciation: ; french: Orphée) is a Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet in ancient Greek religion. He was also a renowned poet and, according to the legend, travelled with Jaso ...

'' *1956: ''Estro arguto''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Radice, Attilia 1914 births 1980 deaths Italian ballerinas People from Taranto Prima ballerinas