Gemze de Lappe
Encyclopedia
Gemze de Lappe is an American
dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille
and was frequently partnered by de Mille's favorite male dancer, James Mitchell
.
Originally trained by Irma Duncan and Michel Fokine
, de Lappe began her career in Fokine's company. Her Broadway
musical theatre performance credits include Simon of Legree in the original production of The King and I
(also in the film version), Paint Your Wagon (Donaldson Award winner), Juno
, and The American Dance Machine. She also appeared in the original West End
and first national companies of Oklahoma!
, dancing the iconic role of Laurey in the 'Dream Ballet'. In the early 1950s, she briefly formed part of a dance team with Dean Crane. De Lappe's long concert dance career included engagements with American Ballet Theatre
and the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre
.
De Lappe remains active as a choreographer and teacher, but is especially well-known for reconstructing the work of de Mille, Isadora Duncan
, and Jerome Robbins
. She recreated de Mille's choreography for the 1979 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! and choreographed Abe Lincoln in Illinois
on Broadway. De Lappe regularly travels the country, recreating the original choreography for such shows as The King and I, Oklahoma!, Brigadoon, and Carousel for various professional, regional, and educational theatre companies. In Spring 2011, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
presented an accurate recreation of the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! De Lappe recreated the original choreography, two-time Tony Award nominated actor Terrence Mann
directed, and John Mauceri
, the school's chancellor and former director of the Hollywood Bowl
orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
For several years, she was a professor of dance at Smith College
, and has held a number of visiting appointments since her nominal retirement. In 1989, Niagara University
awarded her an honorary doctorate.
In 2007, she was awarded Tony Award Honor for Excellence in Theatre.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
and was frequently partnered by de Mille's favorite male dancer, James Mitchell
James Mitchell (actor)
James Mitchell was an American actor and dancer. Although he is best known to television audiences as Palmer Cortlandt on the soap opera All My Children , theatre and dance historians remember him as one of Agnes de Mille's leading dancers...
.
Originally trained by Irma Duncan and Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
, de Lappe began her career in Fokine's company. Her Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical theatre performance credits include Simon of Legree in the original production of The King and I
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
(also in the film version), Paint Your Wagon (Donaldson Award winner), Juno
Juno
- Astronomy and space exploration :* 3 Juno, an asteroid** Juno clump, a probable asteroid family in the vicinity of 3 Juno* Juno , a NASA mission to Jupiter* Juno I, a satellite launch vehicle* Project Juno, a private British space programme...
, and The American Dance Machine. She also appeared in the original West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and first national companies of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
, dancing the iconic role of Laurey in the 'Dream Ballet'. In the early 1950s, she briefly formed part of a dance team with Dean Crane. De Lappe's long concert dance career included engagements with American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
and the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre
Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre
The Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre toured the United States from 1953 to 1954 under the aegis of producer Sol Hurok. The company offered an overview of Agnes de Mille's choreography to that date, with the addition of Anna Sokolow's "Short Lecture & Demonstration on the Evolution of Ragtime" and...
.
De Lappe remains active as a choreographer and teacher, but is especially well-known for reconstructing the work of de Mille, Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan was a dancer, considered by many to be the creator of modern dance. Born in the United States, she lived in Western Europe and the Soviet Union from the age of 22 until her death at age 50. In the United States she was popular only in New York, and only later in her life...
, and Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
. She recreated de Mille's choreography for the 1979 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! and choreographed Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a play written by the American playwright Robert E. Sherwood in 1938. The play, in three acts, covers the life of President Abraham Lincoln from his childhood through his final speech in Illinois before he left for Washington. The play also covers his romance with Mary...
on Broadway. De Lappe regularly travels the country, recreating the original choreography for such shows as The King and I, Oklahoma!, Brigadoon, and Carousel for various professional, regional, and educational theatre companies. In Spring 2011, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
presented an accurate recreation of the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! De Lappe recreated the original choreography, two-time Tony Award nominated actor Terrence Mann
Terrence Mann
Terrence Vaughan Mann is an American actor, director, singer, songwriter and dancer who has been prominent on the Broadway stage for the past three decades...
directed, and John Mauceri
John Mauceri
John Francis Mauceri is an American conductor, producer and arranger for theatre, opera and television. For fifteen years, he served on the faculty of Yale University. He was a protege of Leonard Bernstein...
, the school's chancellor and former director of the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
For several years, she was a professor of dance at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, and has held a number of visiting appointments since her nominal retirement. In 1989, Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
awarded her an honorary doctorate.
In 2007, she was awarded Tony Award Honor for Excellence in Theatre.
External links
- Dance Magazine interview with Gemze de Lappe
- Film Reference
- Recreating The King and I
- On Agnes de Mille
- I Danced Straight on Through