Bergsma, Deanne (1941–)

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Bergsma, Deanne (1941–)

South African ballet dancer. Born Deanne Harrismith, 1941, in Pretoria, South Africa; trained with Marjorie Sturman in Johannesburg.

Joined Royal Ballet in London (1959), where she created roles in Ray Powell's One in Five and Frederick Ashton's Enigma Variations (both 1968), among others; danced in England and on tour in numerous works to great acclaim, such as Tetley's Field Figures, and Ashton's Daphnis and Chloe, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty; best known for her mime portrayal of the Polish mother in Britten's opera Death in Venice (1973); appeared in "Field Figures" segment of the film I Am a Dancer (1973).

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Bergsma, Deanne (1941–)

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