The Greats

Just like the actors and actresses of the big screen, the world of dance has its celebrities as well. Perhaps the most famous of all dancers was Fred Astaire. Even if you are not a dance enthusiast, you've probably heard of him. Born in Omaha Nebraska (I nearly moved there a few years ago!) in 1899, he began dancing at the age of four along with his sister, Adele. They became quite successful and appeared in several Broadway musicals, including "Lady, Be Good" (1924) and "The Band Wagon" (1931). Adele gave up dancing in 1932 after getting married. Fred married in 1933 to Phyllis Livingston Potter, and made his way into the Hollywood business shortly after. After creating several dancing films, he retired from movie-making in 1946 and went on to found several successful dancing schools. He eventually remarried to Robyn Smith, a jockey in her 30's, after Phyllis died of cancer in 1954. He eventually died in 1997.
One of the most famous ballerinas of all time, Anna Pavlova, is not necessarily considered a "household" name, but she is nonetheless celebrated in the world of ballet. She was born in St. Petersburg in 1881, and became mesmerized with the world of dancing at the young age of 10. 2 years later, she was accepted into St. Petersburg's Imperial Ballet school. While there, she was praised not for her beauty, but for her ability to bend and twist with extreme grace and ease. She became incredibly famous and travelled worldwide (in the days before air travel, too). Well known for her performances of "The Swan" and "Giselle", she died in 1931in the Netherlands.
Alicia Alonso, a lesser known but nonetheless talented ballerina, was born in Cuba in 1921. She studied in both Cuba and New York at the American Ballet Theatre, and, in 1948, formed her own company. She continued to dance through the Ballet Theatre despite her failing eyesight.