Léo Staats

Léo Staats Choreographer

Biography

Of Hungarian origin but born in Paris in 1877, Léo Staats studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School under the direction of Louis Mérante. He joined the Corps de Ballet in 1893 and was later appointed Principal Dancer, partnering first Rosita Mauri and then Carlotta Zambelli. He produced around ten ballets for the Opera, worked with the stage director Antoine, collaborated with Léon Gaumont to film dance, and took on the artistic direction of several productions entrusted to him by Jacques Rouché at the Théâtre des Arts.

After the First World War, Léo Staats became the Opera’s first ballet master. He taught at both the Ballet School and within the company, and staged the dance sections of operatic works. Among his choreographies are Cydalise et le chèvre-pied in 1923 and Soir de fête in 1925, created for the étoiles Carlotta Zambelli and Olga Spessivtseva. He also helped develop the talents of younger dancers such as Camille Bos, Serge Peretti, and Jeanne Schwarz.

In 1926, he inaugurated the Ballet Parade (Défilé du Ballet). At the same time, he opened a class on rue Saulnier and was invited to Covent Garden in London as well as to New York. He passed away in Paris in 1952.

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