Frederic Franklin

Frederic Franklin was a British-born ballet dancer and choreographer who had a long and distinguished career in the United States. He started his dance training in Liverpool and moved to Paris at the age of 17 to perform in cabaret. He joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1937 and became one of its principal dancers and ballet masters. He partnered with many famous ballerinas, such as Alicia Markova, Alexandra Danilova, and Moira Shearer, and worked with many renowned choreographers, such as George Balanchine, Leonide Massine, and Agnes de Mille. He created or revived many ballets and roles, such as Harlequinade, Coppélia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. He also appeared in several films, such as The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffmann. He co-founded the National Ballet of Washington, D.C. in 1962 and the Cincinnati Ballet in 1964. He continued to dance until his late 90s, performing character roles with American Ballet Theatre and other companies. He was also a mentor and coach to many younger dancers. He received many awards and honors for his contributions to ballet, such as the Capezio Dance Award, the Dance Magazine Award, the National Medal of Arts, and the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. He died in 2013 at the age of 98 from complications from pneumonia.