Carmen de Lavallade
Carmen de Lavallade (born March 6, 1931) is an American actress, choreographer and dancer.
Carmen de Lavallade
March 6, 1931
Actress, choreographer, dancer
1948–present
1
Janet Collins (cousin)
Early life[edit]
De Lavallade was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 6, 1931,[1] to Creole parents from New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by her aunt, Adele, who owned one of the first African-American history bookshops on Central Avenue. De Lavallade's cousin, Janet Collins, was the first Creole/African descendant prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera.[2][3] The family was Catholic.[4]
De Lavallade began studying ballet with Melissa Blake at the age of 16. After graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, she was awarded a scholarship to study dance with Lester Horton.[5]
Personal life[edit]
De Lavallade had resided in New York City with her husband Geoffrey Holder until his death on October 5, 2014.[16] Their lives were the subject of the 2005 Linda Atkinson and Nick Doob documentary Carmen and Geoffrey.[17] The couple had one son, Léo. De Lavallade's brother-in-law was Boscoe Holder.[18]
Awards[edit]
In 2004, de Lavallade received the Black History Month Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rosie Award (named for Rosetta LeNoire and "given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary accomplishment and dedication in the theatrical arts and to corporations that work to promote opportunity and diversity"),[19][20] the Bessie Award in 2006, and the Capezio Dance Award in 2007,[9][21] as well as an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the State University of New York through Purchase College in 2006 and Juilliard School in 2008.[22]
In 2016, de Lavallade received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Obie Awards presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice for her excellence in off-broadway theater.[23]
In December 2017, she received the Kennedy Center Honors Award.[11] On August 17, 2017, two days after U.S. President Trump's third statement after the 'Charlottesville rally', she announced that she will forgo the related reception at the White House which was later cancelled,[24][25] although she did attend the dinner at the State Department hosted by Rex Tillerson and emceed by Julie Andrews.[26]
De Lavallade was a The New Jewish Home's Eight over Eighty Gala 2017 honoree.
On August 30th 2023, De Lavallade was presented with Richmond Ballet's Lifetime Achievement in Dance Award prior to a performance of John Butler's Carmina Burana at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.[27]