Dance in History (Part 3)

Events in Music


Birthdays in Music

Birthdays 201 - 300 of 371

Rita Moreno (92 years old)

1931-12-11 Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress (West Side Story), born in Humacao, Puerto Rico

  • 1932-02-16 Gretchen Wyler, American actress, dancer (Silk Stockings), and animal rights activist, born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma (d. 2007)
  • 1932-08-28 Carlene Polite, American dancer, activist and author (Sister X), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2009)
  • 1932-08-31 Roy Castle, English dancer and television entertainer (Record Breakers), born in Scholes, Yorkshire (d. 1994)
  • 1932-10-13 Liliane Montevecchi, French-Italian actress, dancer, and singer (Nine; Grand Hotel), born in Paris, France (d. 2018)
  • 1933-08-04 Rudi van Dantzig, Dutch choreographer/ballet dancer (Painted Birds) (d. 2012)
  • 1934-03-27 Arthur Mitchell, African-American ballet dancer (New York City Ballet, 1955-66), choreographer, and founder of Dance Theater of Harlem (1968), born in Harlem, New York City (d. 2018)
  • 1934-06-29 Henning Kronstam, Danish dancer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1995)
  • 1934-07-28 Jacques d'Amboise, American ballet dancer, and choreographer (NYC Ballet Company, 1949-84), actor (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers), and educator (founded National Dance Institute, 1976), born in Dedham Massachusetts (d. 2021) [1]
  • 1934-11-03 Ruma Guha Thakurta, Indian singer, actress, and founder of Calcutta Youth Choir, born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (d. 2019)
  • 1935-02-20 Raven Wilkinson, American ballerina, first African American woman to dance with major ballet company, born in New York City (d. 2018)
  • 1936-09-25 Juliet Prowse, South African-American actress and dancer (Who Killed Teddy Bear), born in Mumbai, India (d. 1996)
  • 1936-10-01 Edward Villella, American ballet dancer (NYC Ballet, 1957-79), and artistic director (Miami City Ballet, 1985-2012), born in Bayside, Queens, New York
  • 1936-11-25 Trisha Brown, American choreographer and dancer, born in Aberdeen, Washington (d. 2017)
  • 1937-02-04 Ann Southam, Canadian electronic and classical music and dance composer (Glass Houses; Figures; The Emerging Ground), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2010)
  • 1937-02-05 Cocky van Oost [Kommertje van Vliet], Dutch ballet dancer (Sylphides), born in the Netherlands
  • 1937-08-22 Donald MacLeary, British ballet dancer, répétiteur, and ballet master (Royal Ballet, 1954-2002), born in Glasgow, Scotland
  • 1937-11-19 José Molina [Quijada], Spanish-born American flamenco dancer, born in Madrid, Spain (d. 2018)
  • 1938-03-17 Rudolf Nureyev, Russian-Austrian ballet dancer and choreographer (Kirov Ballet, 1958-61; Royal Ballet, 1964-70; Paris Opera Ballet. 1983-89), born on a train near Irkutsk, Soviet Union (d. 1993)
  • 1939-02-20 (Roy George) Elroy Josephs, Jamaican-British jazz dance teacher, and actor, born in Jamaica (d. 1997)
  • 1939-02-28 Tommy Tune, American dancer, choreographer, and theater director (Boyfriend), born in Wichita Falls, Texas
  • 1939-10-11 Woytec Lowski [Woiciech Wiesidlowski], Polish dancer and ballet master, born in Brzesc, Poland (d. 1995)
  • 1939-12-18 Wiesje Backer, Dutch ballet dancer, actress. and playwright, born in Ammerzoden, Netherlands (d. 2018)
  • 1940-07-27 Pina Bausch, German dancer and choreographer, born in Solingen, Germany (d. 2009)
  • 1941-07-01 Twyla Tharp, American dancer and choreographer (Twyla Tharp Dance Troupe), born in Portland, Indiana
  • 1941-09-09 Karin von Aroldingen, German ballet dancer (NYC Ballet Co), born in Griez, Germany (d. 2018)
  • 1942-05-22 Malika Sabirova, Soviet Tajik ballet dancer, born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (d. 1982)
  • 1942-08-26 Vic Dana [Samuel Mendola], American singer and dancer ("Red Roses For A Blue Lady"), born in Buffalo, New York
  • 1942-11-16 Donna McKechnie, American Tony Award-winning actress and dancer (Company), born in Pontiac, Michigan
  • 1943-02-16 Anthony Dowell, English ballet dancer (Royal Ballet), born in London, England
  • 1943-05-10 Judith Jamison, American dancer and choreographer (artistic director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1943-07-13 Danny Lockin, American actor and dancer (Hello Dolly), born in Lanai, Hawaii (d. 1977)
  • 1943-10-21 Paula Kelly, American dancer, choreographer, and actress (Night Court, 1984 - "Liz"), born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 2020)
  • 1944-09-14 Joey Heatherton, American dancer and actress (Bluebeard), born in Rockville Center, New York
  • 1945-01-14 Maina Gielgud, British ballet dancer and administrator, born in London, England
  • 1945-02-14 Gregory Hines, American actor and dancer (White Nights, Taps), born in New York City (d. 2003)
  • 1945-04-21 Diana Darvey [Rollof], British actress, singer and dancer (The Benny Hill Show), born in Cheadle, Cheshire, England (d. 2000)
  • 1945-07-23 Harold Hennep, Arubian-Dutch actor (Plus Echo), born in Aruba
  • 1945-09-26 Bryan Ferry, British singer-songwriter (Roxy Music - "Love Is The Drug"; "Avalon"; "Dance Away"), born in Washington, County Durham, England
  • 1946-01-28 Gailene Stock, Australian ballerina, teacher, and dance school director, born in Ballarat, Victoria (d. 2014)
  • 1946-03-15 David Wall, British ballet dancer (Royal Ballet, 1966-84), and director (Royal Academy of Dancing, 1985-91), born in Chiswick, London (d. 2013)
  • 1946-06-05 Frederick "Freddie" Stone, American rock guitarist (Sly & The Family Stone - "Dance To The Music"), born in Vallejo, California
  • 1946-10-10 Ben Vereen, American Tony Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer (Jesus Christ Superstar; Pippin; Roots; Tenspeed and Brown Shoe; Webster), born in Miami, Florida
  • 1946-10-27 Peter Martins, Danish dancer and choreographer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 1947-01-17 Ulysses Dove, American dancer and choreographer, born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1996)
  • 1947-03-13 Lesley Collier, English ballet dancer, born in Orpington, England
  • 1947-08-15 (Gerardo) "Jerry" Velez, American drummer and percussionist (Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock appearance; Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in The Bronx, New York
  • 1947-10-30 Chris Komar, American ballet dancer and artistic director (Milwaukee Ballet, 1969-72; Merce Cunningham Dance Company, 1972-93), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 1996)
  • 1948-01-27 Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian-American ballet dancer,and choreographer (American Ballet Theater), and actor (The Turning Point; Sex In The City), born in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union (now Latvia)
  • 1948-10-09 Dave Samuels, American vibraphonist (Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in Waukegan, Illinois (d. 2019)
  • 1949-11-10 Ann Reinking, American dancer and actress (All the Jazz; Micki & Maude), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2020) [1]
  • 1949-11-28 Alexander Godunov, Russian-American ballet dancer (Bolshoi Ballet, 1971-79), and actor (Witness; Die Hard), born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin, USSR (d. 1995)
  • 1950-01-16 Debbie Allen, American dancer, choreographer, actress (Fame -"Lydia"), producer, and director (A Different World), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1950-03-07 Iris Chacón, Puerto Rican singer, dancer, and TV personality, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 1950-04-26 Peter Schaufuss, Danish dancer and director of ballet (Deutsche Opera Berlin), born in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 1950-11-25 Jocelyn Brown, American R&B and dance singer, born in Kinston, North Carolina
  • 1950-12-02 Merrill Ashley [Linda Merrill], American ballerina (NYC Ballet, 1967-97), and dance teacher, born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • 1951-01-12 Larry Hoppens, American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Orleans - "Still the One"; "Dance With Me"), born in Long Island, New York (d. 2012)

Phil Collins (73 years old)

1951-01-30 British Oscar, Grammy, Novello, and Brit Award-winning rock drummer, pop singer-songwriter (Genesis - "Invisible Touch"; "I Can't Dance"; solo - "In The Air Tonight"; "Against All Odds"), and actor (Buster), born in Chiswick, England

  • 1951-02-28 Bill Cratty, American modern dancer and choreographer, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1998)
  • 1951-05-14 Jay Beckenstein, American saxophonist (Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • 1951-07-01 Terrence Mann, American actor and dancer, born in Ashland, Kentucky
  • 1952-04-23 Narada Michael Walden, American rock, R&B, and jazz fusion musician and producer ("I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance with You)"; Divine Emotions"), born in Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • 1952-05-02 Mari Natsuki, Japanese singer, dancer and actress, born in Tokyo
  • 1952-08-18 Patrick Swayze, American actor and dancer (Dirty Dancing; Ghost), and singer-songwriter (She's Like The Wind), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2009)
  • 1952-09-19 Nile Rodgers, American guitarist (Chic - "Le Freak"), and music producer (Sister Sledge; David Bowie -"Let's Dance"), born in The Bronx, New York
  • 1952-12-08 Richie Morales, American jazz-fusion drummer (Spyro Gyra. 1983-90 - "Morning Dance"), and college professor (SUNY, 2000-21), born in New York City
  • 1953-07-09 Margie Gillis, Canadian dancer and choreographer, born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1954-01-09 Lance Hoppens, American rock bassist (Orleans - "Still the One"; "Dance With Me"), born in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York
  • 1954-03-10 Tina Charles [Hoskins], British disco singer ("I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)"), born in Whitechapel, London, England
  • 1954-04-17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, composer and producer ("Maniac"; "Flashdance"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1954-06-13 Rita Cadillac, Brazilian dancer and singer, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 1954-08-21 Nick Kane, American rock guitarist (The Mavericks, 1993-2000 - "Dance the Night Away"), born in Jerusalem, Georgia
  • 1954-11-09 Sue Upton, English actress (The Benny Hill Show) and dancer, born in Chadwell Heath, Essex, England
  • 1954-11-14 Yanni [Chryssomallis], Greek new age musician (Live at the Acropolis, Sand Dance), born in Kalamata, Greece
  • 1954-12-14 Ib Andersen, Danish ballet dancer, born in Copenhagen
  • 1955-03-09 Fernando Bujones, American ballet dancer, born in Miami, Florida (d. 2005)
  • 1955-08-22 Chiranjeevi [Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad], Telugu film actor, dancer and producer, born in Mogalthur, India
  • 1955-11-25 Bruno Tonioli, Italian-British dancer, choreography and television personality (Strictly Come Dancing, 2004-19; Dancing With the Stars, 2005-present; Britain's Got Talent, 2023-), born in Ferrara, Italy
  • 1956-01-17 Cristina [Monet Zilkha], American dance-pop singer songwriter ("Sleep It Off"), born in New York City (d. 2020)
  • 1956-11-29 Hinton Battle, American Tony Award-winning singer, dancer, and actor (The Wiz), born in Neubrücke, Hoppstädten, West Germany
  • 1957-01-08 Nacho Duato, Spanish classical dancer and choreographer, born in Valencia, Spain
  • 1957-08-24 Jeffrey Daniel, American dancer and singer (Shalamar), born in Los Angeles, California [some sources give year as 1955]
  • 1958-01-31 Tom Schuman, American pianist (Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in Buffalo, New York
  • 1958-04-24 Valery Lantratov, Russian ballet dancer, born in Moscow

Michael Flatley (65 years old)

1958-07-16 Irish-American dancer-choreographer (Riverdance; Lord of Dance), flute player, and filmmaker, born in Chicago, Illinois

  • 1958-11-07 Jack Wyngaard, South African dancer (London City Ballet, 1986-96), born in Simon's Town, South Africa d. 1996)
  • 1959-01-30 Jody Watley, American R&B singer (Shalamar; "Looking For a New Love"), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1959-03-14 Patrick Dupond, French dancer (La Bayadère), born in Paris, France
  • 1960-08-26 Nancy Martinez, French Canadian pop-dance singer (Move Out), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1960-12-23 William Sinnot, Scottish techno-dance pop singer and musician (Shamen - "Move Any Mountain"), born in Glasgow (d. 1990)
  • 1961-07-03 Pedro Romeiras, Portuguese dancer, born in Lisbon, Portugal
  • 1961-12-10 Nia Peeples, American dancer and host (Fame; Party Machine), born in Hollywood, California
  • 1962-02-09 Anik Bissonnette, Canadian ballet dancer (Les Grands Ballets Canadiens), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1962-06-08 Kristine W [Weitz], American musician ranked by Billboard as the 8th Greatest Dance Artist of all-time (The Advocate), born in Pasco, Washington
  • 1963-02-09 Lolo Ferrari [Eve Valois], French adult actress and dancer, born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France (d. 2000)
  • 1963-03-31 Paul Mercurio, Australian actor, dancer, choreographer (Strictly Ballroom; Dancing with the Stars), and politician, born in Swan Hull, Victoria, Australia
  • 1963-05-24 Gene Anthony Ray, American dancer and actor (Fame - "Leroy"), born in Harlem, New York (d. 2003)
  • 1963-09-19 Alessandra Martines, Italian-French dancer and actress (Chance or Coincidence), born in Rome, Italy
  • 1964-03-18 Rozalla [Miller], Zambian electronic dance music performer, born in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia

Weddings in Music


Divorces in Music


Deaths in Music

Deaths 201 - 242 of 242

  • 2007-03-11 Betty Hutton [Elizabeth June Thornburg], American actress, dancer, singer and comedian (Greatest Show on Earth), dies of colon cancer a 86
  • 2007-05-27 Gretchen Wyler, American actress, dancer (Silk Stockings), and animal rights activist, dies at 75
  • 2007-06-17 Serena Wilson, American belly dancer (b. 1933)
  • 2008-02-07 Leona Wood, American surrealist painter and ballet and folk dancer dies at 86
  • 2008-06-12 Pam Henning [Cornelia Catharina Pamela Ingenegeren], Indonesian-Dutch cabaret dancer and actress, dies at 90
  • 2008-06-17 Cyd Charisse [Tula Finklea], American dancer and actress (Singin' in the Rain), dies at 86
  • 2008-08-16 Lucrecia Roces Kasilag, Filipina composer (Filiasiana), concert pianist, and educator (Bayanihan Dance Company), dies of pneumonia 89
  • 2008-12-07 Marky Cielo, Filipino and Igorot dancer and actor (b. 1988)
  • 2008-12-25 Eartha Kitt, American singer (Santa Baby), dancer, comedian, actress and activist (Catwoman-Batman), dies at 81
  • 2008-12-29 Daniel Nagrin, American modern dancer and choreographer, dies at 91
  • 2009-01-03 Olga San Juan, American actress, dancer and comedian (Variety Girl, 1 Touch of Venus), dies at 81
  • 2009-04-27 Frankie Manning, American dancer, instructor, choreographer, and one of the founding fathers of Lindy Hop, dies at 94
  • 2009-06-30 Pina Bausch, German choreographer and dancer, dies at 68
  • 2009-09-14 Patrick Swayze, American actor (Ghost), dancer (Dirty Dancing), and songwriter, dies of pancreatic cancer at 57
  • 2010-01-22 James Mitchell, American dancer and actor (All My Children, Bloomer Girl), dies of pneumonia at 89
  • 2010-05-07 Adele Mara [Adelaida Delgado], American actress, singer and dancer (Cool Million; Wheels), dies at 87
  • 2010-11-25 Ann Southam, Canadian electronic and classical music and dance composer (Glass Houses; Figures; The Emerging Ground), dies at 73
  • 2011-02-12 Elizabeth "Betty" Garrett, American actress, comedian, singer and dancer (All in the Family), dies of an aortic aneurysm at 91
  • 2011-06-07 Nataraja Ramakrishna, Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and musicologist, dies at 88
  • 2011-07-10 Roland Petit, French choreographer and dancer (b. 1924)
  • 2014-04-29 Gailene Stock, Australian ballerina, teacher, and dance school director, dies of cancer at 68
  • 2014-05-07 Will Gaines, American-British tap dancer, dies at 86
  • 2014-11-15 (Bernard) "Bunny" Briggs, American tap dancer 'Duke's dancer', dies at 92
  • 2016-01-24 Yvonne Chouteau, Native American dancer (one of the "five Moons" of Oklahoma), dies at 86
  • 2017-03-18 Trisha Brown, American choreographer and dancer, dies at 80
  • 2018-01-03 Bra Willie [Keorapetse Kgositsile], South African poet and political activist (Point of Departure: Fire Dance Fire Song), dies at 79
  • 2018-01-05 José Molina [Quijada], Spanish-born American flamenco dancer, dies of lung cancer at 81
  • 2018-01-09 Karin von Aroldingen, German ballet dancer (NYC Ballet), dies at 76
  • 2018-06-29 Liliane Montevecchi, French-Italian actress, dancer, and singer (Nine, Grand Hotel), dies of colon cancer at 85
  • 2018-07-01 Dame Gillian Lynne [Pyrke], British dancer, choreographer and actress, known for Broadway work on "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera," dies at 92
  • 2018-08-05 Charlotte Rae, American character actress (Facts of Life - "Edna"), comedian, singer, and dancer, dies at 92
  • 2018-08-29 Paul Taylor, American dancer and choreographer (Paul Taylor Dance Company), dies at 88 [1]
  • 2018-12-17 Raven Wilkinson, American ballerina, first African American woman to dance with major ballet company, dies at 83
  • 2018-12-26 Sono Osato, American Japanese ballet dancer and actress, dies at 99
  • 2019-02-24 Margaret Scott, South-African ballet dancer and founder (Australian Ballet School), dies at 96

Keith Flint (1969-2019)

2019-03-04 English singer, musician and dancer (Prodigy), found dead after committing suicide at 49

  • 2020-03-31 Cristina [Monet Zilkha], American dance-pop singer songwriter (Sleep It Off), dies at 64
  • 2020-07-17 Zizi Jeanmaire, French dancer, singer and actress (Carmen), dies at 96
  • 2021-01-13 Robert Cohan, American-British dancer (Martha Grahame Dance Company, 1946-57, 1962-69), choreographer, and artistic director (London Contemporary Dance Theatre, 1969-89), dies at 95
  • 2021-02-09 Armando "Chick" Corea, American jazz-fusion pianist and composer; 27 time Grammy winner (Return To Forever; Delhpi I; Toy Dance), dies of cancer at 79 [1]
  • 2021-05-02 Jacques d'Amboise, American ballet dancer, and choreographer (NYC Ballet Company, 1949-84), actor (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers), and educator (founded National Dance Institute, 1976), dies from stroke complications at 86 [1]
  • 2022-12-10 Beryl Grey [Groom], English prima ballerina (Sadler’s Wells/Royal Ballet, 1941-57), artistic director, and dance teacher, dies at 95 [1]