Philippe Taglioni began his career as a dancer in Stockholm before being hired as a ballet master in Vienna, Cassel and Munich. In 1827, he and his daughter were given contracts by the Paris Opera—a move that all but sealed his career: henceforth it became inextricably linked to Marie for whom he created all his choreographies. He first made a name for himself with opera divertissements such as the famous “Ballet of the Nuns” from Robert le Diable (1831). The success of the latter and the growing fame of Marie earned him the opportunity to create grand ballets: La Sylphide (1832), Nathalie ou la Laitière Suisse (Nathalie or the Swiss Milkmaid) (1832), La Révolte au sérail (The Revolt in the Serail) (1833) and La Fille du Danube (The Daughter of the Danube) (1836). In an era when romanticism was lighting up Europe’s stages with its quest for immateriality, Taglioni’s ballets were renowned for the movements and gestures he developed as well as for the dramatic sense he gave them. In Saint Petersburg, he created La Gitana (1838) and L’Ombre (The Shadow) (1839) and then remained there as ballet master until 1855.