Cleo de Merod: biography, career, personal life

Even many years after the death of many outstanding cultural figures, they are often remembered in our time. Talent is something that does not disappear with the years, but memory lives forever. Cleo de Mérod is an incredibly popular dancer who once drove all Paris crazy. About the difficult fate of this fragile girl with an incredible masculine character, we will tell in this article.

Short biography of a dancer: birth and study

Born unsurpassed Cleopatra Diane de Mero, better known as Cleo, in September 1875 in Paris. The girl's father was an Austrian landscape painter Karl Freiherr de Merod, whose origin is associated with a noble Dutch clan. Like other children, our heroine dreamed of becoming famous. She often sang melodies from her favorite songs and films, under which she made a kind of na.

Seeing the infatuation of her daughter, her parents decided to identify her in the ballet school, acting at the Parisian National Opera. And if at the age of eight Cleo de Merode only performed simple movements, then by the age of eleven she could already boast of some kind of professionalism and even start her own career.

Plus, the physiological features of the girl played a huge role in her life. According to many admirers of the ballerina's talent, she was very tiny and thin.

The first successes in the career of young talent

Despite her appearance, which was very different from the local gorgeous beauties, Cleo de Meurod (photo of the girl can be seen below) still found her audience. From the very beginning of her studies at the ballet school, the little girl was attracted by the eyes of her fans and teachers. According to eyewitnesses, the dancer impressed everyone with her plasticity, ease and grace. She rather resembled a fairy elf, rather than a human, so during her speech all eyes were riveted only to her.

When Cleo turned thirteen, she was invited to perform at one of the most prestigious performances ever held in the French capital. The role in the production of Choryhee became a sign for the dancer. Right after her, the girl was noticed and talked about her.

Flawless Bando Hairstyle

Like many novice ballerinas, Cleo did not use the services of makeup artists and make-up artists when preparing for a performance in Choryhe. All the make-up she did herself. Cleo de Merod paid her hair a special attention.

Since the girl had very long hair, she gathered them in the tail, and then twisted on the back of the head, slightly loosening the curls in front. It turned out a kind of bando with a direct parting and light waves in front, completely covering the ears.

By the way, this hairstyle, as it is fashionable to say now, has become a brand-name dancer. It was recognized by her. And even later in the slang of many hairdressers appeared the expression "a bando in the style of Cleo de Merod."

Speeches, fame and international recognition

The real sensation of the ballerina made, taking part in the World Paris exhibition in 1900, where she showed incredible "Cambodian dances". Later, the beauty performed in the famous cabaret in France and a variety show called "Folies-Bergeres". Then she went on tour to Berlin, Budapest, Hamburg, was in St. Petersburg and New York.

Acquaintance with the King of Belgium Leopold II

When Cleo turned 23, she was invited to the opera and ballet theater in Bordeaux. At that time, the girl was already popular. However, Frina's role played a certain role in her life. During the performance, the dancer attracted the attention of the King of Belgium Leopold II. It is noteworthy that the old ladies' man did not like loud music and theater, but appreciated feminine beauty and refinement. He also attended the opera, in order to get acquainted with cute actresses after a concert or a ballet.

According to eyewitnesses, Cleo de Meurod (her growth was significantly different from other large and tall girls) immediately liked the king. For his sake, he repeatedly came up with an excuse to come to Paris. For example, among the reasons why the monarch came to France, there was a definite agreement with the local government regarding colonial interests in Africa. In one such trip, Leopold II personally arrived at Cleo, giving her a huge bouquet of flowers.

Stormy romance, gossip and the benefit of Cleo

Since the moment the king arrived at the house of the dancer, gossip about their turbulent romance was spreading across Paris. And the French not only laughed at the new fascination of the monarch, but even depicted him on caricatures. To all else he was given the ridiculous nickname "Cleopold". And although the very heir of the Belgian throne was flattered by such attention, Cleo de Meurod (the biography of this remarkable dancer is associated with a lot of gossip and misadventures), on the contrary, was upset and in every way denied her connection with the king.

Later in Paris, a new wave of gossip swept through the possible abdication of the monarch from his throne and the upcoming marriage to the notorious ballerina. However, these rumors were not confirmed, although they did not abate for a long time.

Cleo de Merode: personal life and enterprise

Since the reputation of the dancer was finally spoiled (mainly because the Belgian king himself had the fame of a lascivious man with illegible connections), she decided to think about a further plan of her actions. Once evil tongues are so bored with a girl that she even sued, in order to confirm her innocence to a loving monarch. However, it was not possible to prove the opposite.

Then Cleo decided to go the other way. She thought for a long time and, finally, realized that Leopold II's fleeting infatuation could have a positive impact on her country. In particular, when the king decided to present a valuable gift to France, it was his beloved ballerina who told him what to spend money on. According to her idea, in 1900, thanks to Cleo in Paris, the first subway appeared.

That's just because of this gift people once again started talking about her romance with the Belgian monarch. This fame, according to sources, pursued Cleo de Meurod in old age, not to mention the younger years. Finally disappointed in people, the dancer was forced to leave her native Paris.

Career fotomodeli and the role of the Muses

After leaving Paris, the famous ballerina went on an international tour. At that moment she did not just dance, but again she conquered the hearts of men. Unexpectedly for himself, Cleo became a favorite muse for many artists and photographers. For example, the girl posed for the Italian portraitist Giovanni Boldini, was a model for Edgar Degas.

Her image was also used by the famous PR man Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who created advertising posters for the production of the Moulin Rouge. And the ballerina sculpture, cast from wax, once flaunted in Montmartre in the Greven Museum. In addition, de Merod was a model for the scandalous sculptor Alexander Falgier, who created the naked "Dancer". Still later, the girl was noticed by photographers Leopold Reutlinger and Paul Nadar, making images for postcards. So the face and body of the ballerina began to be depicted on postcards.

The post-war years and the further career of Cleo

After the outbreak of World War I, the girl left her dancing career for a while. Instead, she went to the front with ballet numbers and thus encouraged the fighters at a difficult time for them. After the war, she returned to the stage, although now her performances have become extremely rare. At some point in time, she realized that she was simply obligated to leave a trace for her descendants, so she soon wrote a memoir called "The Ballet of My Life."

In the beginning of 1966, de Merod died suddenly. Her body was buried near her mother in the Pere Lachaise cemetery. A few years later the grave of the famous dancer was decorated with a huge statue made by the sculptor and Spanish diplomat Luis de Perinato.