April 21
Born Today:
Billy Wilson
Dancer Billy Wilson (1935-1994) began his dance studies through the Philadelphia school system and won a scholarship to study with choreographer Antony Tudor (1908-1987) and he performed with the Philadelphia Ballet. Wilson relocated to New York and began dancing on Broadway in Bells are Ringing (1956) and Jamaica (1957), later returning to Broadway and choreographing Bubbling Brown Sugar (1976) and Eubie! (1977). In the intervening years, he danced with the National Ballet of Holland, taught at several universities in Massachusetts, and choreographed for the children’s TV show ZOOM (1976-1981). His choreography has also been performed by Philadanco, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Also Born Today: Protege of Jean Dauberval (1742-1806), choreographer Jean-Louis Aumer (1774-1833) was the ballet master of the Paris Opera between 1820 and 1831, creating ballets including La Somnambule ou L'Arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur (1927). His two most famous pupils were sisters Therese Elssler (1808-1878) and Fanny Elssler (1810-1884). Bolshoi ballerina and teacher, Elizabeth Anderson-Ivantzova (1890-1973) opened a school in New York and taught many famous students, including Zena Rommett (1920-2010), the creator of the Floor Barre technique. Broadway dancer Susanne Carmina Cansino (1930-2021) and first cousin to movie musical star Rita Hayworth (1918–1987), was the last surviving member of the Dancing Cansinos.
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Broadway Premiere: Annie in 1977