Agnes de Mille

Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 – October 7 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer. She was born in Harlem into a well-connected family of theater professionals (her uncle was Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille and also the granddaughter of economist Henry George).

Related Topics:
September 18 - 1905 - October 7 - 1993 - American - Harlem - Cecil B. DeMille - Henry George

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She had to convince her parents to let her take dancing lessons because she was considered a terrible dancer. She graduated from UCLA and moved to London in 1932 to study at Marie Rambert's Ballet Club.

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In 1939 she was invited to join the American Ballet Theatre. There she created Black Ritual, the first ballet to use an all-black cast.

Related Topics:
1939 - American Ballet Theatre

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After that, she worked as choreographer on many major musicals and a number of films, including:

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• Rodeo (1942)
• Oklahoma! (1943)
• Carousel (1945)
• Brigadoon (1947)
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949)
• Paint Your Wagon (1951)
• Juno (1959)

In 1953, she founded the Agnes de Mille Theater.

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She suffered a stroke in 1975, but recovered after a long battle. She received the Handel Medallion for achievement in the arts in 1976.

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Agnes de Mille was a lifelong friend of modern dance legend Martha Graham. The publisher of many books about dance, de Mille in 1992 published Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham, a 509-page biography of Graham. Agnes de Mille had been working on the Graham manuscript for over 30 years.

Related Topics:
Modern dance - Martha Graham

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