Carmen de lavallade kennedy center
Geoffrey holder.
Carmen de Lavallade
American dancer and actress (born )
Carmen de Lavallade (born March 6, ) is an American actress, choreographer and dancer.
Carmen de lavallade kennedy center
For many years, she was associated with and married to Tony Award-winning actor, dancer, and director Geoffrey Holder. In , she received the Kennedy Center Honors award for lifetime achievement and contributions to American culture.
Early life
De Lavallade was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 6, ,[1] to Creole parents from New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by her aunt, Adele, who owned one of the first African-American history bookshops on Central Avenue.
De Lavallade's cousin, Janet Collins, was the first Creole/African descendant prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera.[2][3] The family was Catholic.[4]
De Lavallade began studying ballet with Melissa Blake at the age of After graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, she was awarded a scholarship to study