January 8
Born Today:
Bronislava Nijinska
Choreographer Bronislava Nijinska (1891-1972) was the sister of dancer/choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky (1889-1950) and danced in some of his seminal pieces, including Afternoon of a Faun (1912). She created masterpieces of her own for the original Ballets Russes, including Les Noces (1923), which remains in the repertories of ballet companies worldwide.
Also Born Today: Modern dancer Gret Palucca (1902-1993) who performed with Mary Wigman (1886-1973) and opened several schools of dance in Germany, helping to found the German Academy of Arts. Ballerina Galina Ulanova (1910-1998) danced nearly her entire career within Soviet Russia, and was only allowed at the age of 46 to tour internationally. Thelma “Butterfly McQueen (1911-1995), best known for her role in Gone with the Wind (1939) began her career as a dancer, performing with Katherine Dunham (1909-2006). Ballerina Annabelle Lyon (1916-2011) danced with the early versions of New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre dance companies and on Broadway in Carousel (1945). Choreographer Nacho Duato (1957-), danced with Cullberg Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theatre before becoming a resident choreographer and artistic director for dance companies in Spain, Russia, and Germany.