Gemze de Lappe

Gemze de Lappe (born February 28, 1925, in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille and was frequently partnered by de Mille's favorite male dancer, James Mitchell. Originally trained by Irma Duncan and Michel Fokine, de Lappe began her career in Fokine's company. Her musical theater credits include the original Broadway productions of "The King and I" (and the film version) and "Paint Your Wagon" (Donaldson Award), as well as the West End and first national companies of "Oklahoma!". In the early 1950s, she briefly formed part of a dance team with Dean Crane. ["Via the Grapevine," "Dance Magazine" 24.9 (September 1950): 8.] De Lappe's long concert dance career included engagements with American Ballet Theatre and the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre.

De Lappe remains active as a choreographer and teacher, but is especially well-known for reconstructing the work of both de Mille and Isadora Duncan. She recreated de Mille's choreography for the 1979 Broadway revival of "Oklahoma!" and herself choreographed "Abe Lincoln in Illinois".

For several years, she was a professor of dance at Smith College, and has held a number of visiting appointments since her nominal retirement. In 1989, Niagara University awarded her an honorary doctorate. In 2007, she was presented with an honorary Tony Award for a lifetime of excellence in the theatre.

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* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_n1_v72/ai_20183125 "Dance Magazine" interview with Gemze de Lappe]