Annabelle Lyon (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Annabelle Lyon was raised in Memphis, where father Max ran a chain of grocery stores. She took her first ballet lessons there and, showing talent, received a scholarship to Michel Fokine
's school in New York and lived with relatives in Brooklyn.
She was a member of George Balanchine
’s American Ballet
, founded by Lincoln Kirstein
in 1936, and danced in the original casts of Le baiser de la fée, Jeu de cartes and Serenade
. Three years later was one of the original dancers of Ballet Theatre, now known as American Ballet Theatre
. On January 12, 1940, she was the company's first Giselle
, partnered by Anton Dolin
. The next year, on October 31, she danced her former teacher Fokine's Le Spectre de la Rose
; she and her partner Ian Gibson were the last dancers taught the rôles by the choreographer.
Her repertory included classical as well as contemporary works by the company's founders Antony Tudor
and Agnes de Mille
; de Mille's 1941 Three Virgins and a Devil (as The Lustful One), Tudor’s 1942 Pillar of Fire. On May 12, 1947, she danced with Jerome Robbins
in the premiere of his Summer Day at New York City Center
.
Leaving Ballet Theater, Lyon danced on Broadway in Carousel
(1945–47) and in Juno
(1959), both choreographed by de Mille. She married businessman Julius Borah in 1946, their son Joshua survives them.
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
's school in New York and lived with relatives in Brooklyn.
She was a member of George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
’s American Ballet
American Ballet
The American Ballet was the first professional ballet company George Balanchine created in the United States. The company was founded with the help of Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Mortimer Morris Warburg, managed by Alexander Merovitch and populated by students of Kirstein and Balanchine's School of...
, founded by Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Edward Kirstein was an American writer, impresario, art connoisseur, and cultural figure in New York City...
in 1936, and danced in the original casts of Le baiser de la fée, Jeu de cartes and Serenade
Serenade (ballet)
Serenade is a ballet by George Balanchine, subsequently co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet, to Tschaikovsky's 1880 Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48...
. Three years later was one of the original dancers of Ballet Theatre, now known as 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...
. On January 12, 1940, she was the company's first Giselle
Giselle
Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine...
, partnered by Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin
Sir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
. The next year, on October 31, she danced her former teacher Fokine's Le Spectre de la Rose
Le Spectre de la Rose
Le Spectre de la Rose is a ballet of the Ballets Russes based on a poem by Théophile Gautier. The music, by Carl Maria von Weber, was his 1819 piano piece Invitation to the Dance, in the 1841 orchestration by Hector Berlioz. Choreography was by Michel Fokine and set and costume design by Léon Bakst...
; she and her partner Ian Gibson were the last dancers taught the rôles by the choreographer.
Her repertory included classical as well as contemporary works by the company's founders Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer.-Biography:Tudor, born William Cook, discovered dance accidentally. He began dancing professionally with Marie Rambert in 1928, becoming general assistant for her Ballet Club the next year...
and 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...
; de Mille's 1941 Three Virgins and a Devil (as The Lustful One), Tudor’s 1942 Pillar of Fire. On May 12, 1947, she danced with 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...
in the premiere of his Summer Day at New York City Center
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
.
Leaving Ballet Theater, Lyon danced on Broadway in Carousel
Carousel (musical)
Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II . The work premiered in 1945 and was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline...
(1945–47) and in Juno
Juno (musical)
Juno is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Marc Blitzstein and book by Joseph Stein, based closely on the 1924 play Juno and the Paycock by Sean O'Casey. The original Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York, on March 9, 1959.Despite light moments, the musical,...
(1959), both choreographed by de Mille. She married businessman Julius Borah in 1946, their son Joshua survives them.
Obituaries
- NY Times, Jack Anderson, November 10, 2011