Mark Edward Perugini

Born in Chiswick, London, in 1876, Mark Edward Perugini came from a notably artistic family and later became part of the same creative circle through his marriage to Irene Mawer, the mime and movement teacher who helped found the Ginner-Mawer School. He died on October 15, 1948.

Perugini is best remembered for The Art of Ballet, first published in 1915. In that book he set out not just to celebrate ballet, but to explain its history, conventions, and visual appeal in a way that ordinary readers could enjoy. He also wrote shorter dramatic works, including The Flame: A Pantomime, in One Act and Plays for Dancers.

The surviving record suggests he was also active as a journalist and critic, contributing writing on dance to London periodicals in the years before The Art of Ballet appeared. That mix of enthusiasm, historical interest, and practical knowledge gives his work a welcoming tone that still makes it a useful introduction to ballet's world.