Martha Mouravieva
in Giselle (Act I)

Born in Russia in 1838, Martha Mouravieva was supposedly the daughter of a Russian serf who in 1861 became a pupil of the choreographer Arthur Saint-Léon, the Maître de Ballet at the St Petersburg Imperial Ballet between 1859 and 1869.

In 1863 Saint-Léon brought his protégée to Paris where she appeared in a production of Giselle. According to several online sources, this proved 'a disaster'  but various British newspapers state that she created a 'furore' in the role (Cheshire Observer, 30 May 1863), while The Era reported (28 June 1863) that ' In the ballet, of Giselle the Russian danseuse, Mdlle. Mouraviev, is still highly attractive, and a pas de deu, by Mdlle. Zina and M. Chapuy is much applauded.'

In 1865 she married a wealthy aristocrat and retired from the stage. She died in 1879, apparently of consumption.