January 17
Born Today:
Moira Shearer
Ballerina Moira Shearer (1926-2006) is best known for her starring role in the dance movie The Red Shoes (1948), a film that has inspired generations of dancers. She studied with Nikolas Legat (1869-1937) and at the Sadler’s Wells Ballet School, later dancing for the company starting in 1942. She retired from ballet a little over a decade later, but continued to act in several movies, even starring in the controversial pre-slasher film Peeping Tom (1960). Additionally, she wrote articles on ballet for The Daily Telegraph newspaper and educated audiences worldwide about dance.
Also Born Today: Ballerina Nora Kaye (1920-1987) danced in works by George Balanchine (1904-1983) and Antony Tudor (1908-1987) and married dancer/film director Herbert Ross (1927-2001). Together they produced dance movies such as The Turning Point (1977), Nijinsky (1980), Pennies from Heaven (1981) and Dancers (1987). Dancer/choreographer Ulysses Dove (1947-1996) performed with the Ailey company from 1973-1980, when he began choreographing for ballet companies including NYCB, ABT, and London Festival Ballet. Brazilian dancer/choreographer Ismael Ivo (1955-2021) danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and directed the Biennale Danza in Venice — he died of COVID in 2021.