Born Today:
Antony Tudor

Pillar of Fire (1942), a masterful work by ballet choreographer Antony Tudor (1908-1987), was danced in the early years of what is now known as the American Ballet Theatre company and the piece premiered at the Met just four days after his birthday. Tudor’s ballets often featured psychologically tormented protagonists, and in this dance, unrequited love drives the lead character to abandon all hope. Tudor began studying dance in his late teens with former Ballet Russes dancer Marie Rambert (1888-1982). Shortly afterward, he joined her professional company and began choreographing a few years later. Unlike other ballet choreographers at the time, he dressed his dancers in ‘street clothes’ and used cinematic devices such as freezes and flashbacks to flesh out the characters and their motivations.

Also Born Today: Ballroom dancer and teacher Arthur Murray (1895-1991), who created the footprint diagram to teach classes by mail and later through studio franchises. Choreographer Pierre Lacotte (1932-2023) specializes in reconstructing lost Romantic-era ballets. Ballet choreographer Ben Stevenson (1936-), who is best known for transforming the Houston Ballet into an internationally-recognized dance company during his tenure (1976-2003).

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Movie: Bye Bye Birdie released in 1963

Broadway Shows Premiered: Follies in 1971 and Kinky Boots in 2013