A Short History of Capezio

A brief history of the Capezio Company, maker of Capezio tap shoes other dancing shoes, and dancewear.

1871
Company founder Salvatore Capezio was born in Muro Lucano, Italy on April 13, 1871. He trained as a cobbler in Italy before immigrating to the United States.

1887
Salvatore Capezio opened a cobbler shop in New York City at Broaday and 49th Street, across from the Old Metropolitan Opera House. The shop was originally focused on repairing dancing shoes, but later they began making their own line of dancing shoes.

1902
Salvatore Capezio married ballet dancer and La Scala graduate Angelina Passone. He met her when she was shopping for dance shoes in his store. They never had any children.

1910
Capezio's reputation as a dance shoe maker was significantly enhanced in 2010 when Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova ordered pointe shoes for herself and her entire dance company during her first tour of the United States.

1940
Company founder Salvatore Czapezio died on January 1, 1940. Also in 1940, Ben Sommers began his 36-year career as president of the Capezio Company

1957
Capezio president Ben Sommers established the Capezio Award, a "lifetime achievements in Dance" award presented at an annual ceremony,

1985
Capezio President Ben Sommers died of a heart attack at age 78 on April 30, 1985.

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