June 5
Born Today:
Ayodele Casel
Tap dancer Ayodele Casel (1975-) moved to Puerto Rico in 4th grade and fell in love with Salsa music, which would serve to influence her tapping style. Her family returned to New York City in 1990 and she later became friends with fellow tapper Baakari Wilder, while performing in Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk (1996). Wilder encouraged her to study with acclaimed teacher Barbara Duffy (1959-) and in turn, Duffy introduced her to Savion Glover (1973-), who invited her to perform with his group, Not Your Ordinary Tappers in the late 1990s. Her 2017 dance/theatre piece While I Have the Floor honored female tap dancers who came before her and was lauded at the Spoleto Arts Festival, where it premiered. Casel was named by the New York Times as one of the “Biggest Breakout Stars” of 2019 and was featured on a 2021 postage stamp celebrating tap dance.
Also Born Today: Movement theorist Mabel Elsworth Todd (1880-1956) is the creator of Ideokinesis, the practice of using imagery to improve posture and ease of movement. Her ideas were published in The Thinking Body (1937). Before actor Deborah Yates (1970-) starred in the movie National Treasure (2004), she danced with Hubbard Street Dance Company in Chicago, the Rockettes in NYC, and appeared on Broadway in Contact (2000). Ballet dancer Johan Kobborg (1972-) danced with the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Ballet, married acclaimed ballerina Alina Cojocaru (1981-) and briefly directed the Romanian National Ballet Company.