February 16
Born Today:
Vera-Ellen
Hollywood musical star Vera-Ellen (1921–1981) began dancing in a studio alongside future star Doris Day and debuted on Broadway in 1939. Being a Radio City Music Hall Rockette led to substantial roles on Broadway and Vera-Ellen appeared in Panama Hattie (1940) and in A Connecticut Yankee (1943), when she was invited to Hollywood by Samuel Goldwyn. She starred in On the Town (1944) with Gene Kelly (1912–1996) and in White Christmas (1954) with crooner Bing Crosby. In the 1950s, she was a guest on TV variety programs and retired from performing late in the decade.
Also Born Today: Best known as the father of choreographer Marius Petipa (1818–1910), Jean-Antoine Petipa (1787–1855) danced with Filippo Tagioni (1777–1871) before relocating to St. Petersburg in 1847 to run the Imperial School. Ballerina Marie Bonfanti (1845–1921) appeared in the groundbreaking musical The Black Crook (1866) on Broadway. Ballet dancer Anthony Dowell (1943-) danced with the Royal Ballet from the early 1960s until 1984. Dancer Sara Rudner (1944-) performed with Twyla Tharp (1941-) for twenty years and took over direction of the dance program at Sarah Lawrence College in 1999.
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Movie: Carousel released in 1956