Felisa Vanoff: Difference between revisions
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| name =Felisa Vanoff |
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Revision as of 09:58, 15 July 2014
Felisa Vanoff | |
|---|---|
| Born | Phyllis Elizabeth Caputo June 11, 1925 |
| Died | May 29, 2014 (aged 88) |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Resting place | Sun Valley, Idaho |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, choreographer, producer, philanthropist |
| Spouse | Nick Vanoff |
| Children | Nicholas Jr. Flavio |
| Parent(s) | Eugene Caputo Velma Lindway |
Phyllis Elizabeth (Felisa) Vanoff (June 11, 1925 – May 29, 2014) was an American dancer, choreographer, producer, and philanthropist.
Early life and education
Phyllis Elizabeth Caputo was born on June 11, 1925 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] Her father, Eugene Caputo, was a Pennsylvania state representative, and her mother, Velma Lindway, was an artist and illustrator.[1][2][4]
After graduating high school, Felisa moved to a Manhattan boarding house and studied dance with Vincenzo Celli of the Ballet Russe.[2][3][5] She then traveled to Mexico City for eighteen months to study Spanish dance and flamenco with Jose Fernandez.[1][5]
Career
During World War II, Vanoff performed in United Service Organizations Camp Shows in the Philippines, Korea, and Japan, rising to the rank of United States Army captain.[1][2][3] Back in New York City, she worked as a lead dancer in Charles Weidman's Dance Theatre.[1][2] She went on to perform in concerts with Peter Hamilton and appeared on the Fred Waring and Billy Rose television programs.[1][2]
In 1948 she became the first female choreographer for the Harvard Hasty Pudding Theatricals.[1][5] The following year, she worked as assistant choreographer and lead dancer for the New York City Opera, where she performed in Carmen, La Traviata, and Don Giovanni.[1][2] From 1953 to 1955, she was a lead dancer with the John Butler Dance Theatre, often performing alongside Glen Tetley.[1][2] Later, she choreographed the music Carousel, starring Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander.[1] For television, she choreographed Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows[1][2] and dance segments in the Julie Andrews Special from Salzburg.[1]
In 1987 she oversaw the Joffrey Ballet's recreation of The Rite of Spring, originally choreographed by Sergei Diaghilev.[1][2] She co-produced the musical City of Angels on the West End in London, for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1994.[1][2] With her husband, Nick Vanoff, creator and producer of the Kennedy Center Honors, she choreographed numerous Kennedy Center Honors shows.[1]
Philanthropy
Following her husband's death in 1991, she and Gordon Davidson established the Salon at the Taper, an annual charity dinner.[1][2] Proceeds benefited Nick's Tix, a non-profit organization providing low-cost tickets for students, seniors, and the disabled at the Los Angeles Music Center.[1][2]
As a member of the board of directors of the Joffrey Ballet, Vanoff was credited as a driving force in the Joffrey Ballet's move to Los Angeles.[1][2] She also served on the board of directors of Colleagues,[1] the Heinz Awards,[5] and the Blue Ribbon of the Los Angeles Music Center.[2]
Personal
She met her husband, Nick Vanoff, when both were dancers in the New York City Opera in the 1950s.[2][6] They had two sons, Nicholas Jr. and Flavio.[1][6] They resided in Beverly Hills, California.[3]
Death
Vanoff died of cancer on May 29, 2014, at her home in Beverly Hills at age 89.[1] She was buried in Sun Valley, Idaho, her favorite winter skiing resort.[1][2][5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Dagan, Carmel (10 June 2014). "Felisa Vanoff, Dancer, Patron of the Arts, Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Felisa Vanoff, Former Dancer and Choreographer, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d Seitz, John L. (12 June 2014). "Beverly Hills News – Revered Beverly Hills Philanthropist, Patron Of Arts, Felisa Vanoff Dead At 89". The Beverly Hills Courier.
- ^ "Velma Lindway Caputo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2 June 1979. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Emma S. (25 June 2014). "Obituary: Felisa Vanoff / Groundbreaking dancer and choreographer, June 11, 1924 – May 29, 2014". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ a b Blau, Eleanor (22 March 1991). "Nick Vanoff, 61, Former Dancer Who Became Successful Producer". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2014.