Osserman, Wendy (1942–)

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Osserman, Wendy (1942–)

American modern dancer and choreographer. Born 1942 in New York, NY; graduate of Smith College, 1964.

Trained at Martha Graham school with Muriel Manning and Bonnie Bird, and with Betty Jones and José Limón; studied at Ballet Russe School and Ballet Arts school; performed professionally with Hellenic Chorograma in Athens (1964); danced with Alice Condolina troupe in NY and Europe (c. 1965–70) and for other choreographers, including Kai Takei, Valerie Bettis, Frances Alenikoff; began choreographing own works (1968), performing mainly in NY and Greece, then formed the Wendy Osserman Dance Company (1976); won acclaim for I Never Saw Another Butterfly (1977), based on writings of children in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp.