March 24
Born Today:
Gene Nelson
The role that dancer Gene Nelson (1920-1996) is best known for is Will Parker in the movie version of Oklahoma! (1955). His featured dance number, Kansas City, fused tap, clogging, slapstick, and rope tricks. He appeared in the Broadway all-soldier revue This is the Army (1942) and following his service in the Army during WWII, he appeared in the show Lend an Ear (1950) and in a few other Hollywood musicals before Oklahoma!. After retiring from dancing, he directed TV episodes and two films starring Elvis Presley (1935-1977).
Also Born Today: Ballroom dancer Josephine Bradley (1893-1985), who helped to codify dances and develop a syllabus for teachers through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Ballet dancer and founder of the American Ballet Theatre company in New York City, Lucia Chase (1897-1986). Broadway and movie dancer/choreographer Onna White (1922-2005) danced in the stage version of Guys and Dolls (1950) and choreographed the stage and film version of The Music Man, among other shows. Ballerina Rowena Jackson (1926-) performed with The Royal Ballet and relocated to New Zealand, later directing the Royal New Zealand Ballet with her husband, dancer Philip Chatfield (1927-2021). Modern dancer Milton Myers (1951) performed with the companies of Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) and Joyce Trisler (1934-1979) and he directs the modern and contemporary dance program at Jacob’s Pillow.