Leporska, Zoya (1918–1996)

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Leporska, Zoya (1918–1996)

Russian-American ballet dancer and choreographer. Name variations: Zoya Laporska. Born 1918 in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Siberia; died Dec 16, 1996.

Immigrated to US as a child (1925) and studied ballet at numerous schools on West Coast, including Cornish School in Seattle and San Francisco Opera ballet; danced with San Francisco Opera ballet, appearing in Les Sylphides, A Roumanian Wedding, and others; moved to NY (1942) danced with Ballet Theater, then Balanchine's New Opera Co. (1943), and in Ballet International productions of Swan Lake and Caton's Sebastien; began performing in pantomime and theatrical productions (c. 1948), including with Charles Weidman's Theater Dance Co. and with Mata and Hari's pantomime co.; as assistant to Bob Fosse, performed in his Broadway productions, Pajama Game, Damn Yankees and New Girl in Town; began choreographing for summer theaters, national touring shows, and such operas as Summer and Smoke and Before Breakfast.