born June 23, 1810, Vienna, Austria
died Nov. 27, 1884, Vienna
Austrian ballerina.
She studied in Vienna and toured in Europe before making her Paris Opéra debut in 1834. Her warm, spirited style, contrasting with the cool, academic style of the then-reigning Marie Taglioni , made her an immediate success. She introduced theatricalized folk dance (character dance) into ballet. During 1840–42 Elssler toured the U.S., earning wild adulation. She returned to Europe and toured until her retirement to Vienna in 1851.