Jules Leotard: An Acrobatic Innovator

Jules Leotard: An Acrobatic Innovator

Article by Steven Dante

In 1872, a child named Jules Leotard was born in Toulouse (France). Jules Leotard’s father was a teacher of gymnastics and so it is not too hard to understand how and why Jules became interested in gymnastics and acrobatics.

As time passed, Jules Leotard became a highly able gymnastic acrobat but headed down a more traditional road of education, training for a law career. But, as Jules entered his eighteenth year his love of acrobatics took off when he began to experiment with ropes, rings and the trapeze.

Inspired by his acrobatic yearnings, Jules Leotard joined the Cirque Napoleon, making his first public trapeze performance in November of 1859. Jules became an overnight phenomenon due in a large part to the performing of a variety of acrobatic feats that had never been seen before: Leotard was the first person to jump from one trapeze to another and was also the first to carry out mid-air somersaults.

The public positively swarmed to see the innovative Leotard perform his relatively short act (it lasted around 12 minutes), the mainstay of which was Leotard’s impressive leaps between multiple trapezes before he performed a somersault “dismount” to his safety mat on the ground. In fairness, his safety net comprised of a couple of mattresses draped with a few coverings.

Leotard’s performances were seen as wondrous and innovative. So much so in fact that many of his peers and contemporaries clubbed together to reward him with a celebratory banquet and commemorative medal.

From the circus, Leotard translated his trapeze act for the music hall. In 1861 he opened his debut show at London’s Alhambra Theatre. The audiences loved him. His shows were a sell-out pulling in huge crowds and turning him into a major music hall star. With his fame came money: Leotard became a very highly paid entertainer.

Leotard’s Legacy

Apart from being a famous acrobatic innovator, Leotard has become known for two other reasons: a song was written about him and he invented an item of clothing that is still popular today.

The lyricist George Leybourne wrote the words to the ditty “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze” in honor of Leotard celebrating his abilities. “The Daring Young Man” became a very popular song in its time. However, Leotard has become more famous through the clothing item that has taken his name: the leotard.

Leotard designed a figure hugging “maillot”, which was fashioned in such a way as to give him unrestricted movement to perform his acrobatic routines. As he was also an entertainer, Leotard also wanted the skin tight maillot to highlight his muscular stature.

As more people became familiar with Leotard and his appearance, the maillot started to gain popularity with other Leotard inspired performers. The benefits of the maillot gradually gained more popularity until it became the body wear of choice for the ballet studios of Paris.

Unfortunately for Leotard he died from an illness (possibly cholera or typhoid) whilst he was touring in Spain in 1870. He was only 28 years old. Leotard’s maillot lived on however, although by 1876 people had begun to call it a leotard. Jules Leotard may have been amused to know that although his maillot was renamed a leotard, the word maillot in France is nowadays synonymous with swimming costumes or jerseys.

About the Author

Steve Dante is a contributor to the DanceDirect website. His recent energies have been targetted towards promoting dancewear items such as dance leotards.

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