June 20
Born Today:
Giuseppe Bausilio
Broadway dancer Giuseppe Bausilio (1997-) was born to dancer parents and studied dance in Switzerland, appearing in many operas and ballets starting at age 4. He was invited to audition to replace one of the Billys in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot at the age of 11, after winning third place in the prestigious YAGP (Youth American Grand Prix) competition. Bausilio has appeared in the Broadway and touring version Billy Elliot: The Musical (2008), Newsies: The Musical (2012), Aladdin (2014), and Hamilton (2015) as well as recent revivals of Cats and Hello, Dolly!.
Also Born Today: As a youngster, ballerina Sonia Arova (1927-2001) barely escaped France when the Nazis invaded in 1940. She went on to perform with multiple ballet companies worldwide and was the first to dance with Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) after he defected from the Soviet Union, in his New York debut with Ruth Page and company in March 1962.