Salvatore Capezio
Salvatore Capezio (1871–1940) was an Italian-born shoemaker who established Capezio, one of the world's largest manufacturers of dance apparel and specialized dance shoes, including ballet pointe shoes.
Salvatore Capezio was born April 13, 1871 in Muro Lucano, in the province of Potenza. After training as a cobbler in Italy, he emigrated to the United States. In 1887, he opened a cobbler's shop at Broadway and 39th Street, diagonally across from the old Metropolitan Opera House (The Met) in New York City. At first, he specialized in repairing theatrical shoes for performers at The Met. According to company tradition, he made the transition from repairing shoes to making shoes after he made an emergency pair of shoes for Jean de Reszke. The quality of his work for de Reszke established his reputation among performers.
In 1902, Capezio married Angelina Passone, a ballet dancer and graduate of La Scala. The couple met when she stopped by his shop looking for dance shoes. They had no children.
In 1910, the celebrated Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova had Capezio make pointe shoes for her and her whole company during her first tour of the United States. This star endorsement enhanced Capezio's reputation. In subsequent years, the business expanded beyond ballet slippers and pointe shoes; it made shoes for the dancers of the Ziegfeld Follies and numerous Broadway shows, shoes for jazz dancers, and body wear, such as tap dancers' skirts.
Several scholarships and awards for dancers have been established in Salvatore Capezio's name.[1]
References
- Capezio Company History (also see http://www.capeziodanceeu.com/history.asp)
- Capezio/Ballet Makers Inc., E-notes (accessed December 12, 2006)
- ↑ "Capezio Scholarships To Help Ballet Students". The New York Times. 7 November 1987. Retrieved 13 October 2016.