July 12
Born Today:
Jonathan Wolken
Pilobolus co-founder Jonathan Wolken (1949-2020) attended a modern dance class taught by Alison Becker Chase (1946-) at Dartmouth College that would change the direction of his life. Wolken, Chase, and others from the class formed a dance performance company named after a spore-launching fungus. Pilobolus celebrates the body as kinetic sculpture and created witty, humorous, and inventive dances. The company received national attention from appearing in commercials, on advertisements, and in calendars, and they were invited in 2007 to perform during the Academy Awards using shadow play to indicate the nominated movies.
Also Born Today: Can-can dancer and the Queen of Montmartre, Louise Weber, or La Goulue (1866-1929) performed at the Moulin Rouge during the late 1800s and was featured in posters and paintings by artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.
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Ballet Premiere: Pas de Quatre in 1845
Movie: Three Little Words released in 1950
Broadway Premiere: Bring it On in 2012