Noverre, Jean-Georges (1727, Paris; 19 November 1810, St. Germainen-Laye), choreographer, reformed the entire concept of the ballet that had prevailed until his day: the execution of geometrical patterns having little or no relevance to the drama being developed on stage. Noverre’s father was an officer in the army of Charles XII, and he had a military career in mind for his son, but the youth was more interested in the dance and insisted upon taking lessons from the famous Dupré. He made his…