Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro

maître à danser italien

Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro was a renowned Jewish Italian dancer who flourished during the Renaissance period in Italy. Active from approximately 1420 to 1484, he showcased his expertise as a dancing master at several prominent courts, including those in Naples, Urbino, Milan, and Ferrara. His surname "Ebreo" signifies his Hebrew heritage, while "da Pesaro" denotes his origin from the town of Pesaro in east-central Italy.

Guglielmo's career was marked by a significant personal transformation. Between 1463 and 1465, he likely converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism, adopting the name Giovanni Ambrosio. This conversion may have influenced his subsequent career, although the specifics of his life after this period are not well-documented. Nevertheless, Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro remains a notable figure in the history of Italian dance, having performed and taught at some of the most esteemed courts of his time.