Little Dancer of Fourteen Years
The "Little Dancer" wax sculpture we see today is a reworked version of the original sculpture that was shown in 1881. After seeing the wax sculpture in Degas’ living quarters in April 1903, the New York collector Louisine Havemeyer expressed interest in buying the wax. After proposing a bronze or cast wax of the sculpture, which Mrs. Havemeyer refused, Degas took his wax figure upstairs to his working studio and told Vollard he was reworking the sculpture for Havemeyer for 40,000 francs. Degas never sold the sculpture to Mrs. Havemeyer. After Degas died, it was found in a corner of his studio. Paul Lefond, Degas’ biographer, described the "Little Dancer" wax after Degas’ death as "nothing but a ruin;" and Mary Cassatt telegraphed Mrs. Havemeyer "Statue Bad Condition." However, the wax sculpture we know today is not a ruin. It is Degas' reworked second version of his wax figure. At some point before Degas extensively reworked his sculpture, he allowed a plaster to be cast from the wax figure. This recently re-discovered plaster records the "Little Dancer"’s original pose, bodice, and hairdo. The plaster is now in a private collection in the United States.
Philippe Demard
He created for the choreographer Philippe Jamet the video concept and the design of the installation : ""Portraits Dansés, tour de France"" (Theater of the Odéon, then tour in 15 cities in 2000)
This concept was adapted many times since : ""Portraits Dansés, le tour du Monde"" (creation in 2002 at the Theater of the Odéon ; then toured in 14 countries)""Portraits Dansés, le tour du monde"" was created during the first "Nuit Blanche" in Paris and in Rome, then shown at the Venice Biennale in 2003. At last "« Portraits dansés, Enfants du Monde »" (2006) and « Portraits dansés l’Europe à Paris » (2008)