Ballou, Germaine (b. 1899)

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Ballou, Germaine (b. 1899)

American ballet dancer and teacher. Name variations: Germaine Douglas. Born Germaine Douglas, Dec 14, 1899, in Seattle, Washington; sister of Ann Douglas (dancer).

With younger sister, trained at Douglas Dancing School in Seattle, then at Denishawn School in Los Angeles (1920–27); appeared in numerous films as an extra or exotic dancer in denishawnesque numbers, including in The Persian Market (1924), Wild Orchids (1929) and Lives of the Bengal Dancers (1935); with sister, taught at and directed numerous studios in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Manhattan Beach (starting 1921); switched from teaching Denishawn style to Cecchetti ballet technique (1960s).