Famous Dancers Part III

Famous Ballerina Irina Baranova

Irina Baranova was born in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) in the Russian Empire on March 13, 1919. Irina was interested in ballet since she was very young. Irina left Russia when she when she was a little girl and moved to Romania where her mother taught her simple ballet exercises. By the time she was 9 her family had moved to Paris so she could study ballet professionally. She made her debut at the Paris Opera when she was 11.When she was only 12 years old she was discovered by the famous choreographer George Balanchine. At age 14 she danced as Odette, the lead ballerina in Swan Lake. She moved from Paris to Australia when she was 17 where she lived until she died. She retired from dance when she was only 27. She was married twice and had three children. She died in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia on June 28, 2008 at age 89.

Famous Dancers Part II

Famous Modern Dancer Martha Graham

Martha Graham is a famous modern dancer who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1894 and died in New York City at the age of 96 on April 1, 1991. She was married, divorced and had no children. She is considered to be a legendary modern dancer. Martha Graham did not begin to study dance until she was in her teens. Her family moved to California. They did not approve of Martha studying dance. She began taking classes at Denishawn in Los Angeles. At Denishawn she was a student, a teacher and performer. She then moved to New York and in 1926 she established her own dance company. Some people thought that Martha Graham’s experimental style was jarring and ugly but she said that her dance was spiritual.

Famous Dancers Part I

Famous Jazz Dancer Jack Cole

Jack Cole was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on April 27, 1911 and died on February 27, 1974. His birth name was John Ewing Richter. He was an American dancer, choreographer and theater director known as the father of Theatrical Jazz Dance. Jack Cole began to study dance with Denishawn in New York in the late 1920’s. He made his professional debut in 1930 at the age of 19. Jack Cole studied and danced in New York City and Hollywood, California. He created the style of jazz dance still seen on Broadway shows, Hollywood movie musicals and music videos today. He choreographed many jazz theater dances for famous actresses such as Marilyn Monroe in “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best friend” from the film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”.   

Make-Up Creativity Design Project

The inspiration for my make up creativity design was my grandmother. She likes to do puzzles in the summer when I visit her. One time she bought a puzzle of all four seasons. I liked the idea of a puzzle face girl for my make up creativity design. But just a puzzle face girl was not enough. So, I remembered the puzzle my grandmother bought and decided to go for the four seasons idea. My design is a girl’s face with puzzle pieces on her face representing all four seasons. I chose the title, “The Seasons of Life” because in life things change.

The Nutcracker

I was in the Nutcracker Ballet in December, 2011.
I was in the party scene.

It was my 5th year in The Nutcracker.