Anneliese von Oettingen
Encyclopedia
Anneliese von Oettingen (22 January 1917 – 9 December 2002) was a ballerina
and influential ballet teacher and choreographer. After training in Berlin
and London
, she taught in Berlin during World War II
. After the war she moved to Cincinnati, where she taught ballet and modern dance, and helped found the Cincinnati Civic Ballet. She was featured in Sports Illustrated
, and received the keys to the city of Cincinnati.
in 1917, von Oettingen was four years old when she began dance lessons. She originally trained in the Russian ballet
method under the instruction of Eugenie Edvardova in Berlin. At age 16 she was directing and teaching at her own school of ballet in Berlin and was later licensed by the German state to train professional dancers. Von Oettingen later trained under Nikolai Legat and Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat
in London
. She performed as a solo ballerina and choreographed for the Potsdam Opera.
Von Oettingen was teaching ballet in Berlin during World War II. She described teaching during the bombing: "We had ballet dancing during the day. Air raids would sound and we would run to the basement. Once the all-clear sound came, we had to go back to the studio and pretend nothing had happened." She left Berlin for the United States without her husband, Friedrich-Karl Sass, who was declared missing in action. Von Oettingen spent the rest of her life as a widow, never remarrying.
with her two children Cornelia and Tyll, then aged 4 and 6, where she became an well-known ballet teacher. She opened her first ballet school in Cincinnati a year later in 1948. In addition to teaching at her own school, she also taught ballet and modern dance
at Our Lady of Cincinnati College (later Edgecliff College
) for 14 years, and at Moss Lake Camp for girls for 23 years.
In 1962 von Oettingen was one of seven ballet teachers in the Cincinnati area who came together to form the Cincinnati Civic Ballet, now known today as the Cincinnati Ballet Company
. She also played a key role in recommending Oleg Sabline for new leadership at the College-Conservatory of Music. In 1973, von Oettingen opened her Adirondack ballet camp at Eagle Lake, New York. The camp operated until 2001, one year before her death. She died in Clearwater, Florida
in 2002.
for her work with professional football players. Football players Brad Cousino and Ken Avery
attended the Anneliese von Oettingen School of Ballet in Cincinnati for rehabilitation after sustaining injuries. Cousino also trained at von Oettingen's ballet camp at Eagle Bay, New York
.
In 1989, von Oettingen received the keys to the city of Cincinnati in recognition of her accomplishments and her first ballet studio in Cincinnati was recognized as a "Cincinnati First" with a bicentennial plaque. Later, in 1998, Ohio Governor Bob Taft
honored her with the governor's award.
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
and influential ballet teacher and choreographer. After training in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she taught in Berlin during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war she moved to Cincinnati, where she taught ballet and modern dance, and helped found the Cincinnati Civic Ballet. She was featured in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and received the keys to the city of Cincinnati.
Early life
Born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1917, von Oettingen was four years old when she began dance lessons. She originally trained in the Russian ballet
Russian ballet
Russian ballet is a form of ballet characteristic of or originating from Russia. In the early 19th century, the theaters were opened up to anyone who could afford a ticket. There was a seating section called a rayok, or 'paradise gallery', that consisted of simple wooden benches...
method under the instruction of Eugenie Edvardova in Berlin. At age 16 she was directing and teaching at her own school of ballet in Berlin and was later licensed by the German state to train professional dancers. Von Oettingen later trained under Nikolai Legat and Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat
Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat
Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat was the Prima Ballerina of the Imperial and State theatres of Moscow and St. Petersburg. She was the founder of the Legat School of Ballet in Kent. She was married to Nikolai Legat, who danced with the Mariinsky Ballet. She taught many notable ballet dancers, including...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She performed as a solo ballerina and choreographed for the Potsdam Opera.
Von Oettingen was teaching ballet in Berlin during World War II. She described teaching during the bombing: "We had ballet dancing during the day. Air raids would sound and we would run to the basement. Once the all-clear sound came, we had to go back to the studio and pretend nothing had happened." She left Berlin for the United States without her husband, Friedrich-Karl Sass, who was declared missing in action. Von Oettingen spent the rest of her life as a widow, never remarrying.
In the United States
In 1947, at the age of 30, von Oettingen moved to Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
with her two children Cornelia and Tyll, then aged 4 and 6, where she became an well-known ballet teacher. She opened her first ballet school in Cincinnati a year later in 1948. In addition to teaching at her own school, she also taught ballet and modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
at Our Lady of Cincinnati College (later Edgecliff College
Edgecliff College
Edgecliff College was a private Catholic women's college located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was founded in 1935 and merged with Xavier University, also of Cincinnati, in 1980.-History:...
) for 14 years, and at Moss Lake Camp for girls for 23 years.
In 1962 von Oettingen was one of seven ballet teachers in the Cincinnati area who came together to form the Cincinnati Civic Ballet, now known today as the Cincinnati Ballet Company
Cincinnati Ballet
The Cincinnati Ballet is a professional ballet company founded in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The current artistic director is Victoria Morgan.-Founding:...
. She also played a key role in recommending Oleg Sabline for new leadership at the College-Conservatory of Music. In 1973, von Oettingen opened her Adirondack ballet camp at Eagle Lake, New York. The camp operated until 2001, one year before her death. She died in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
in 2002.
Recognition
In 1977 von Oettingen was featured in Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
for her work with professional football players. Football players Brad Cousino and Ken Avery
Ken Avery
Kenneth William Avery is a former college and professional American football player. He played college football at University of Southern Mississippi, where he was a linebacker...
attended the Anneliese von Oettingen School of Ballet in Cincinnati for rehabilitation after sustaining injuries. Cousino also trained at von Oettingen's ballet camp at Eagle Bay, New York
Eagle Bay, New York
Eagle Bay is a hamlet on Route 28 in the Town of Webb in Herkimer County, New York. Eagle Bay is on the border of the Herkimer and Hamilton counties, and borders Fourth Lake. Its permanent population is 293 spread out among 968 housing units .-Sources:Eagle Bay is a hamlet on Route 28 in the Town...
.
In 1989, von Oettingen received the keys to the city of Cincinnati in recognition of her accomplishments and her first ballet studio in Cincinnati was recognized as a "Cincinnati First" with a bicentennial plaque. Later, in 1998, Ohio Governor Bob Taft
Bob Taft
Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton beginning August 15, 2007.-Personal background:Taft...
honored her with the governor's award.