orig. Francesca Teresa Giuseppa Raffaela Cerrito
born May 11, 1817, Naples, Italy
died May 6, 1909, Paris, Fr.
Italian ballerina and choreographer.
She made her debut in Naples (1832) and gained international fame in London (1840–48). She was known for the brilliance, strength, and vivacity of her dancing. Her greatest role was in Ondine (1843), created for her by Jules Perrot . Cerrito married her regular partner, Arthur Saint-Léon , in 1845. In 1854 she both choreographed and danced in Gemma at the Paris Opera. She retired in 1857. She was one of the few women in the 19th century to achieve distinction as a choreographer.