Agnes de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer. She contributed her amazing choreography to both 20th-century ballet and Broadway musical theater. She is remembered for her courage and determination, especially when she faced declining health late in life.
Early Life of Agnes de Mille:
Born in Harlem in 1905, de Mille joined a family of theater professionals. Her father and uncle were film directors. Early on, de Ville developed a love for acting and decided that she wanted to become an actress. However, she turned to dance when she was told that she wasn't pretty enough. De Mille did not thave a body of a dancers and she lacked flexibility and technique. Frustrated, she learned how to choreograph by watching Hollywood movies. De Mille graduated from UCLA where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, then moved to London to study at Marie Rambert's Ballet Club.
Dance Career of Agnes de Mille:
In 1939, de Mille became associated with American Ballet Theatre. She staged her first ballet, Rodeo, for Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. After the success of Rodeo, de Mille was hired to choreograph Oklahoma! in 1943. In the dream ballet, she successfully integrated dance into the musical's plot. De Mille went on to choreograph over a dozen other musicals. In 1953, she founded the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre.
De Mille suffered a stroke on stage in 1975, but recovered. The next year she received an award for achievement in the arts. She was actively involved in the arts until her death in 1993.
