August 9
Born Today:
Leonide Massine
Although most know Leonide Massine (1896-1979) from his role as the creepy shoe seller in the 1948 movie, The Red Shoes, he is a legendary figure in dance history. Massine danced with the original Ballets Russes and helmed the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, creating a huge body of choreography, which remains in the repertory of ballet companies worldwide. He choreographed a piece entitled Parade (1917) featuring costumes designed by Picasso and music by Satie.
Also born today: Writer, dance advocate, and former dancer, E. Krishna Iyer (1897-1968) helped to resuscitate Bharatanatyam dance in India in the 1930s. Spanish flamenco dancer Teresa Torkanowsky (1926-2021) toured with Carmen Amaya (1913–1963) in the 1940s and Luis Olivares (d. 2020) as well as with her own company. Torkanowsky was instrumental in bringing flamenco to New Orleans and founding the dance program at the University of Maine. Ballet dancer Ashley Page (1956-) performed with the Royal Ballet in London and later directed the Scottish Ballet for a decade.