carmen de lavallade • dancer/actress

b. 1931
Carmen de Lavallade is a dancer, choreographer and actress. She was raised in Los Angeles, and began studying ballet at age 16. She was lead dancer for Lester Horton Dance Theatre until she left for New York with her friend, Alvin Ailey. In 1954, de Lavallade made her Broadway debut partnered with Ailey in Truman Capote's musical "House of Flowers." A prolific artist, she has appeared in many television shows, movies, and shows on- and off-Broadway, in addition to teaching acting students at Yale University. She was married to dancer/actor Geoffrey Holder and their artistic partnership spanned 60 years.

Click here for a short piece on de Lavallade's career from her 2017 Kennedy Center Honoree.