Marge Champion

Marge Champion (1919–2020) was an American dancer, choreographer, and actress who performed in Hollywood musicals and modeled Snow White’s movements for Disney’s 1937 animated film.

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Walt Disney Productions’ 1937 animated feature, the first full-length cel-animated feature film. Champion modeled the title character’s movements for this film.
Gower Champion: An American dancer, choreographer, and director who performed and worked professionally with Marge Champion. Their marriage and stage partnership made them a celebrated dance team.
Rotoscoping: An animation technique that traces filmed live-action movement frame by frame. Champion’s reference footage could inform animation without requiring animators to trace every frame.
Hollywood musical: A film genre that integrates songs and dance into a narrative, often through staged performance. Champion’s screen career belonged to the studio-era musical tradition.
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm: A 1962 fantasy film featuring live-action framing scenes and adaptations of Grimm fairy tales. Champion appeared in this film with her second husband, Gower Champion.
Walt Disney: An American animator and film producer who co-founded the Walt Disney Company. Disney’s studio hired Champion to provide live-action reference for Snow White.
Live-action reference: Filmed or performed material used by artists to study movement, staging, or appearance. Champion’s Snow White performance was one form of live-action reference for animators.
MGM musical: A cycle of lavish musical films produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, especially from the 1930s through the 1950s. Champion performed in MGM productions during the studio musical’s peak years.
Show Boat (1951 film): A 1951 musical film adaptation of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s stage musical. Champion performed in this MGM musical with Gower Champion.
Hamilton Luske: An American animator and film director who directed several Disney animated features. Luske directed much of Snow White’s animation, informed by Champion’s reference performance.