What to do this weekend in New York The 2022 Dance on Camera Festival will run February 11–14 and I would like to thank Michelle Cohn and the festival organizers for inviting me to preview their stunning collection of dance films on the Today in Dance Podcast. This year’s programming…

Born Today: Dave Toole Dancer Dave Toole (1964–2020) was born with sacral agenesis and he had his legs amputated at the age of 18 months. After working at the Post Office for almost a decade, Toole began studying dance at the Laban Centre in London. Toole joined the Candoco Dance…

Born Today: Margo Sappington Choreographer Margo Sappington (1947-) danced with the Joffrey Ballet in the 1960s and performed in Promises, Promises (1968) on Broadway. Near the end of the decade she wrote, choreographed, and performed in the outrageous off-Broadway revue Oh! Calcutta! (1969) and later in the 1970s he choreographed…

Born Today: Paul Taylor Modern dance choreographer Paul Taylor (1930–2018) performed with Martha Graham (1894–1991) and founded his own company in 1954. His work exists in an eclectic category all his own, as his 50+ year artistic range is enormous. Taylor began as an avant garde bad boy, presenting Seven…

Born Today: Jacques d’Amboise Ballet dancer and teacher Jacques d’Amboise (1934–2021) danced for NYCB, originating roles in George Balanchine (1904–1983) choreography including Stars and Stripes (1958) and Jewels (1967). He is also known for his performances in the film versions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Carousel (1956)…

Born Today: Pina Bausch Iconoclastic dance-theatre choreographer Pina Bausch (1940–2009) studied with Kurt Jooss (1901–1979) and Antony Tudor (1908–1987) before taking over the Tanztheater Wuppertal in the early 1970s, creating a not-so-quiet dance revolution. She created epic montage works on stages filled with rocks and water (Vollmond — 2006, carnations…

Born Today: Alexis Rassine Ballet dancer Alexis Rassine (1919–1992) performed with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet (now the Royal Ballet) in the 1940s and early 1950s. As a youth he studied in South Africa with Maude Lloyd (1908–2004) — AKA dance writer Alexander Bland (a shared nom de plume with her…

Born Today: Buddy Bradley As an African-American dancer/choreographer Buddy Bradley (1905–1972) received very little recognition for his work in the United States. Although he staged routines for Ruby Keeler (1909–1993), Eleanor Powell (1912–1982), and brother-sister team Fred and Adele Astaire (1899–1987/1896–1981), Bradley remained uncredited. His lone Broadway credit was for…

Born Today: Jennifer Lopez Before singer/actor Jennifer Lopez (1969-) was Selena or J.Lo, she was a Fly Girl on the TV comedy show In Living Color from 1991–1993. She began dancing at the age of 5 and studied with Ballet Hispanico and moved to Manhattan to pursue a career in…