Léon Espinosa

Espinosa’s early interest in dance was encouraged by a succession of outstanding teachers including Jean Coralli, Filippo Taglioni, and Jules Perrot during his time at the Paris Opéra Ballet.

In 1825,[1] Espinosa was born in The Hague, Holland to Spanish Jewish parents.[3]

Espinosa married and had six children (Eduard, Marius, Leo, Judith, Ray, and Lea), all of whom became dancers and dance teachers.[1]

Eduard married Eve Louise Kelland, with whom he had two children: Edward Kelland-Espinosa and Yvette Espinosa.[1] Eduard became a Maître de Ballet for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Empire Theatre, and Alhambra Theatre.[4] He also established the Association for Operatic Dancing (later the Royal Academy of Dance), as well as the British Ballet Organization.[5]

Judith "performed as prima ballerina at Alhambra Theater, London, under Carlo Coppi."[6]

Both Judith and Lea ran ballet schools in London and overseas. They also served as major examiners for the Royal Academy of Dance.[5]

Espinosa died in 1904.[1]

Espinosa trained at the Paris Opera Ballet school and danced at the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin.[1] After touring the United States, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow as premier danseur de contrast[1] and worked with Marius Petipa. While in Russia, he also danced with the Imperial Maryinsky Theatre.[5]

In 1872, Espinosa moved to London where he continued to dance and eventually opened a dance school.[1][2]

• Espinosa, Leon (1977). The Encyclopedia of Dance & Ballet. London: Pitman Publishing. ISBN 0-907408-63-X.
• Espinosa, Leon (1981). World Ballet. London: Albany Books. LCCN 81-80489.