Violette verdy biography of william shakespeare

Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament. For all his fame and celebration, William Shakespeare remains a mysterious figure with regards to personal history. There are just two primary sources for information on the Bard: his works, and various legal and church documents that have survived from Elizabethan times. Naturally, there are many gaps in this body of information, which tells us little about Shakespeare the man.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, allegedly on April 23, Church records from Holy Trinity Church indicate that he was baptized there on April 26, Young William was born of John Shakespeare, a glover and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a landed local heiress. John Shakespeare had a remarkable run of success as a merchant, alderman, and high bailiff of Stratford, during William's early childhood.

His fortunes declined, however, in the late s. There is great conjecture about Shakespeare's childhood years, especially regarding his education. Scholars surmise that Shakespeare attended the grammar school in Stratford. While there are no records extant to prove this claim, Shakespeare's knowledge of Latin and Classical Greek would tend to support this theory.

In addition, Shakespeare's first biographer, Nicholas Rowe, wrote that John Shakespeare had placed William "for some time in a free school. As the records do not exist, we do not know how long William may have attended the school, but the literary quality of his works suggests a solid educational foundation. What is certain is that William Shakespeare never proceeded to university schooling, which has contributed to the debate about the authorship of his works.

His father held various municipal positions, which offered the family a respectable status in their community. However, John's financial troubles during Shakespeare's childhood raised questions about their economic stability. Despite these challenges, Shakespeare's early environment in a market town flourishing with arts and commerce likely influenced his future literary career.

Regarding education, records about Shakespeare's schooling are scarce. Scholars speculate he attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he would have been exposed to a curriculum that included reading, writing, and Latin—an essential foundation for a budding playwright. Shakespeare likely attended this school until approximately age 15, after which he did not continue to university.

This lack of formal higher education has spurred debate and skepticism about his literary accomplishments, leading some to question whether someone of his background could produce such profound works. Nevertheless, the educational experience he did receive may have equipped him with a solid grasp of the classical works and languages that would inform his writing.

Shakespeare played a crucial role as both an actor and a playwright, working diligently to develop a diverse repertoire. His proficiency in creating engaging characters and compelling storylines quickly distinguished him from other playwrights of the time. By the late s, Shakespeare had written several celebrated plays, and his popularity continued to soar, drawing audiences from all walks of life.

As he ventured deeper into his career, his works evolved, showcasing a mastery of language, plot intricacy, and the ability to explore a wide range of human emotions. William Shakespeare's influence on the world of theater is immeasurable, making him a towering figure in the history of drama. His works, which include approximately 37 plays, sonnets, and 2 narrative poems, have captivated audiences for over four centuries, showcasing a profound understanding of human emotion and conflict.

As a prominent member of the King's Men, the most celebrated theatrical company of his time, Shakespeare not only performed but also wrote many of the plays that defined the Renaissance era. Shakespeare died in ; it is not clear how he died, and numerous suggestions have been put forward. John Ward, the local vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford where Shakespeare is buried , writes in a diary account that:.

The average life expectancy of someone born in London, England in the Sixteenth Century was about 35 years old, Shakespeare died age They contend Shakespeare was actually just a successful businessman, and for authorship suggest names such as Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Arguments have also been made for Francis Bacon. The argument that Shakespeare was actually the Earl of Oxford relies on circumstantial evidence and similarities in his writing style and relationships between his life and the play of Shakespeare.

However, there is no hard evidence tying the Earl of Oxford to the theatre or writing the scripts. By contrast, there is evidence of William Shakespeare working in theatres and he received a variety of criticism from people such as Ben Johnson and Robert Greene.

Violette verdy biography of william shakespeare

Also, the Earl of Oxford died in , and it is generally agreed there were 12 plays published after this date. Oxfords contend these plays were finished by other writers. It is also hard to believe the vain Earl of Oxford who killed one of his own servants would write such amazing scripts and then be happy with anonymity. Also, to maintain anonymity, it would also require the co-operation of numerous family members and other figures in the theatre world.

Verdy was also favored by choreographer Jerome Robbins , who cast her in Dances at a Gathering and In the Night , both set to piano music by Chopin. The choreography of In the Night , set to three Chopin nocturnes, allowed her to display the finest nuances of meaning in movement. Among other notable roles in Verdy's repertory was that of Creusa, the "other woman" in Birgit Cullberg's Medea, which entered the New York City Ballet repertory in From onward, she was also often seen dancing on French, British, Canadian, and American television.

In the s, Verdy was briefly married to the writer and filmmaker Colin Clark. Recognized as a gifted choreographer, Verdy mounted, after , numerous works for American and European ballet companies. She was also internationally renowned as a teacher of ballet technique. In her classes and coaching sessions, she emphasized the joy of dancing over the rigors of routine, even as she maintained the purity of her technical instruction.

Verdy died in Bloomington, Indiana on 8 February , after a short illness. Two honors were bestowed by the French government. In , during her performing career, she was named a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres ; thirty-five years later, she was honored with the knight of France's Legion of Honour , presented in Under the auspices of the George Balanchine Foundation Video Archives, Verdy participated in recording six coaching sessions for the Interpreters Archive, which feature the creators of important Balanchine roles as they teach and coach the roles with dancers of today.

With Conrad Ludlow , she can be seen coaching Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux original version, , the principal roles in Emeralds, and a pas de deux from the divertissement in act 2 of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Master tapes are housed in the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing arts, and copies are made available to research repositories around the world.

Contents move to sidebar hide.