April 22
Born Today:
Yvette Chauviré
Ballerina Yvette Chauviré (1917-2016) was invited to join the Paris Opera Ballet performing company at the young age of 13. She primarily worked with choreographer Serge Lifar (1905-1986) and followed him as he changed posts. She starred in the French dance film La Morte du Cygne (1937), released in the United States as Ballerina (1938). Chauviré desired to dance with other companies and in 1953 was able to negotiate a more flexible contract with the Paris Opera that allowed her to dance with Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) and Erik Bruhn (1928-1986). She retired from the company in 1956 and continued to appear in ballets until 1972. Later in her career, she coached the young Sylvie Guillem (1965-), ensuring her the best ballet education from one of France’s most admired dancers of the 20th century.
Also Born Today: Ballet dancer Dorothy Alexander (1904-1986) took ballet as a child to recover her strength after a long illness and later advocated for a ballet presence in Atlanta. She founded what is now the Atlanta Ballet.