April 29
Born Today:
Jean-Georges Noverre
In his day, dancers wore wigs, masks, heeled shoes, panniers, fitted britches, coats and vests, heavy jewelry and voluminous dresses as costumes. Choreographer and writer Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810) wondered why anyone would want to wear all that stuff for dancing, as he thought it might get in the way of being expressive. Happy International Dance Day, celebrated on Noverre’s birthday! Ballet dancers everywhere have him to thank for freeing them from the tyranny of the pannier, an actual cage worn under dresses designed to shape dresses like parade floats.
Also Born Today: Avant-garde dance filmmaker, Maya Deren (1917-1961) is revered by dancers and filmmakers alike for A Study in Choreography for Camera (1945). Ballerina Zizi Jeanmarie (1924-2020), is best known for the ballet Carmen (1949), choreographed for her by her husband, dancer Roland Petit (1924-2011). Ballerina Collete Marchand (1925-2015) is best known for her role in the movie Moulin Rouge (1952), earning her a Golden Globe award.
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Movie: Shall We Dance released in 1937
Broadway Premiere: Hair in 1968, Rent in 1996