April 12
Born Today:
Ann Miller
Tap dancer and Hollywood musical star Ann Miller (1923-2004) began taking dance classes as a child to strengthen her legs from illness. She and her mother relocated to Los Angeles and she was discovered performing in a nightclub by comedienne Lucille Ball. At the tender age of 13 (they thought she was 18), she began making movies. Miller later starred in Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949), and Kiss Me Kate (1953). When movie musicals lost steam in the late 1950s, she pursued opportunities on Broadway, starring in Mame (1966) and in Sugar Babies (1979).
Also Born Today: Choreographer Jiří Nemeček (1924-1991) directed Prague National Theatre Ballet from 1957-1970 and 1979-1989, where he created more than 70 ballets. The godfather of voguing, Willi Ninja (1961-2006), appeared in the documentary film Paris is Burning (1990) and coordinated his own group, the House of Ninja, to prepare dancers for competing in drag balls.
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Broadway Premiere: An American in Paris in 2015