March 11
Born Today:
Marius Petipa
French dancer and choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910) relocated to the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatre in Russia and proceeded to create many of the ballets seen in ballet company repertories to this day – Don Quixote (1869), La Bayadère (1877), The Sleeping Beauty (1890), and along with Lev Ivanov (1834-1901) -- The Nutcracker (1892) and the revival of Swan Lake (1895). Join us in the Petipa birthday dance - first to the right, then to the left, then to the right again, and then surprise the audience with something fabulous. You have now been Petipa-ed.
Also Born Today: Vanguard modernist ballet choreographer and powerhouse dancer Vaslav Nijinsky (1889?-1950) rocked the ballet world with dances choreographed for the original Ballets Russes, including Afternoon of a Faun (1912) and Rite of Spring (1913), a ballet without pointe shoes or tutus danced to a challenging score, which caused the audience in Paris to riot at the premiere. Dave Gould (1899-1969) is best known for being one of three people to win an Academy Award for Best Dance Direction (for his work in the movie musical Broadway Melody of 1936). This award was given out between 1935-1937 and then the award category was mysteriously discontinued.
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Movie: 42nd Street released in 1933