January 22
Born Today:
George Balanchine
Ballet choreographer George Balanchine (1904-1983), perhaps the most influential choreographer of the 20th century, was a lifelong student of movement and made about 400 dances. You may not know that he was also a lover of cats. He credited this acrobatic feline for giving him ideas for spectacular jumps.
Also Born Today: Ballet dancer Theodore Kosloff (1882-1956), whose remarkable career included dancing with the original Ballets Russes, choreographing for Broadway shows in the teens, and appearances in silent films. Sylvia Waters (1940-) danced with Donald McKayle (1930-2018) and Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) before taking over artistic direction of Ailey II, a showcase for emerging dancers, from the mid-1970s until 2012.