De Lavallade, Carmen (1931–)
De Lavallade, Carmen (1931–)
American ballet and modern dancer. Born Mar 6, 1931, in Los Angeles, California; m. Geoffrey Holder (dancer, actor, choreographer); children: son.
Performed professionally with Lester Horton's dance company (1950–54), where she created roles in his Salome (1950), Another Touch of Klee (1951), Medea (1951), Liberian Suite (1952), and others; danced for Alvin Ailey, John Butler, Donald McKayle, Glen Tetley, and husband Geoffrey Holder; created roles in Agnes de Mille's Four Marys (1964), Butler's Carmina Burana, McKayle's Reflections in the Park, and Ailey's Roots of the Blues (1961); was prima ballerina at Metropolitan Opera in NY (1955–56), and New York City Opera Ballet; appeared in numerous films, including Carmen Jones (1955), and in several off-Broadway productions, including Othello and Death of a Salesman; created acclaimed Les Chansons de Bilitis (1972) for New York Shakespeare Festival.