Legends of Dance

Fred Astaire

Hollywood Dance Icon

He transformed how dance was presented on screen and became one of the most recognizable dance icons of the 20th century.

Ginger Rogers

Hollywood Partner Dance Icon

She helped shape the public imagination of partner dance on screen and remains an enduring icon of grace, glamour, and partnership.

Frankie Manning

Ambassador of Lindy Hop

He helped carry Lindy Hop from the Savoy Ballroom era into modern global swing dance culture.

Martha Graham

Mother of Modern Dance

She created an entirely new vocabulary of movement and proved dance could be as emotionally complex as any art form.

Gene Kelly

Athletic Film Dance Pioneer

He expanded the possibilities of dance on film, making it more physical, grounded, and accessible to everyday audiences.

Arthur Murray

The Man Who Taught America to Dance

He democratized dance education and created a system that brought partner dance to ordinary people across the world.

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Ballet's Greatest Defector

He brought ballet to mainstream audiences and demonstrated that male dance could combine power, grace, and emotional depth at the highest level.

Anna Pavlova

The Swan Who Toured the World

She brought ballet to audiences across six continents and became the embodiment of classical dance elegance.

Bob Fosse

Master of Stylized Movement

His style is instantly recognizable and permanently influenced Broadway, film, and music video choreography.

Alvin Ailey

Cultural Force of Modern Dance

He made modern dance accessible and culturally meaningful for diverse audiences and created one of the most important dance companies in American history.

Isadora Duncan

Pioneer of Free Dance

She liberated dance from corsets and codification, opening the door for all of modern and contemporary dance.

Katherine Dunham

Queen Mother of Black Dance

She brought African diaspora dance traditions into the concert stage and created a technique that bridged cultural anthropology and performance.