Bowman, Patricia (1904–1999)
Bowman, Patricia (1904–1999)
American dancer. Born Dec 12, 1904, in Washington, DC; died Mar 18, 1999.
Began to study ballet with Mikhail Fokine in New York City at 14; made Broadway debut in George White's Scandals (1919) and only returned to Broadway many years later for the 1st of the Ziegfeld Follies (1934); danced as prima ballerina at Roxy Theater in New York where she partnered with Leonid Massine (c. 1928–31); performed at Radio City Music Hall in Prolog ballets for 16 years (starting 1932) and was frequently partnered with Paul Haakon; performed at numerous other Prolog theaters, including Boston Metropolitan (1935–38) and Boston Capitol (1938); made debut in classical ballet with Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1936); performed with Fokine Ballet and Mordkin Ballet (1939–40), where she created roles in Mordkin's Giselle, Voices of Spring and The Goldfish; was charter member of the Ballet Theater company (1940); choreographed several works, including Beat Me, Daddy, Eight to the Bar (1942), Brilliant (1950) and The Penguin (1950); directed and taught at dance studio in NY (1941–77); also performed on radio with Roxy's Gang (mid-1930s) and hosted 13-week tv series, "The Patricia Bowman Show."