Vera Zorina

Vera Zorina (1917–2003) was a Norwegian-born ballet dancer, choreographer, and actress who performed with the Ballets Russes and starred in Broadway musicals and films.

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George Balanchine: George Balanchine was a Russian-born choreographer who helped establish neoclassical ballet in the United States. He choreographed major roles for Zorina and became her husband.
On Your Toes: On Your Toes is a 1936 Broadway musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Zorina appeared in its London production, a key early musical-theater engagement.
Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo: Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo was a touring ballet company founded in 1932 after Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes dissolved. Zorina became a leading performer in the company during her European ballet career.
Neoclassical ballet: Neoclassical ballet is a twentieth-century ballet style that retains classical technique while using simpler forms and modern musical structures. Zorina performed in works associated with Balanchine’s development of the style.
Sergei Diaghilev: Sergei Diaghilev was the Russian impresario who founded the Ballets Russes in Paris in 1909. His company provided the artistic legacy and network in which Zorina first rose to prominence.
I Married an Angel: I Married an Angel is a 1938 Broadway musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Zorina starred in the 1938 production, one of her prominent Broadway roles.
Broadway theatre: Broadway theatre is the professional theater district and industry centered in Manhattan, New York City. Zorina’s musical roles made her a Broadway star beyond the ballet world.
Ballet in the United States: Ballet in the United States is the development and practice of ballet across American companies, schools, and performance culture. Zorina’s American stage career formed part of ballet’s expansion into U.S. popular entertainment.
Igor Stravinsky: Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer whose works reshaped twentieth-century music. Zorina performed in Balanchine’s staging of his ballet Orpheus.
One Touch of Venus: One Touch of Venus is a 1943 Broadway musical with music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ogden Nash. Zorina originated the title role, playing a statue brought to life.