Lidija Franklin
Encyclopedia
Lidija Franklin is a dancer and teacher of Latvian descent, originally from the Moscow
area. In the United States, she is known primarily for her association with Agnes de Mille
.
until the early 1940s, then relocated to the USA and began working in musical theater. She was the female principal dancer in Bloomer Girl
(1944) and Maggie Anderson in the original Brigadoon (1947). (Franklin also played Maggie in the 1957 revival.)
As a concert dancer, Franklin toured as a principal with the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre
and made occasional guest appearances with American Ballet Theatre. She also worked with the modern dance choreographer Pauline Koner.
.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
area. In the United States, she is known primarily for her association 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...
.
Performances
Franklin (née Kocers) performed with the Jooss BalletKurt Jooss
Kurt Jooss was a famous ballet dancer and choreographer mixing classical ballet with theatre; he is also widely regarded as the founder of dance theatre or tanztheater...
until the early 1940s, then relocated to the USA and began working in musical theater. She was the female principal dancer in Bloomer Girl
Bloomer Girl
Bloomer Girl was a Broadway musical that premiered on October 4, 1944. Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy wrote the book, Harold Arlen the music, and E.Y. Harburg the lyrics. Agnes de Mille was the choreographer...
(1944) and Maggie Anderson in the original Brigadoon (1947). (Franklin also played Maggie in the 1957 revival.)
As a concert dancer, Franklin toured as a principal with 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...
and made occasional guest appearances with American Ballet Theatre. She also worked with the modern dance choreographer Pauline Koner.
Ballet Academy
In the early 1960s, Franklin moved to her husband Gustavo Franklin's native Venezuela, where they established Ballet Arte School in CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
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