Gemze de Lappe is an American dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille and was frequently partnered by de Mille's favorite male dancer, James Mitchell. Originally trained by Irma Duncan and Michel Fokine, de Lappe began her career in Fokine's company. Her Broadway musical theatre performance credits include Simon of Legree in the original production of The King and I, Paint Your Wagon, Juno, and The American Dance Machine. She also appeared in the original West End and first national companies of Oklahoma!, dancing the iconic role of Laurey in the 'Dream Ballet'. In the early 1950s, she briefly formed part of a dance team with Dean Crane. De Lappe's long concert dance career included engagements with American Ballet Theatre and the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre. De Lappe remains active as a choreographer and teacher, but is especially well known for reconstructing the work of de Mille, Isadora Duncan, and Jerome Robbins. She recreated de Mille's choreography for the 1979 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! and choreographed Abe Lincoln in Illinois on Broadway. 

February 28th, 1922 in Portsmouth  /  Died:   Nov 11th, 2017 - aged 95, pneumonia