Salli Sorvo received her original training from the famed Michel Fokine, who as a choreographer was certainly the greatest living exponent of the difficult art of dance composition. Later Miss Sorvo studied at the well know American School of Ballet, in New York City, under the strict disciplinarian methods of Anatole Obukov. She was also a student of George Balanchine, considered one of America’s foremost contemporary choreographers of the ballet world.
She was a member of Ballet International and the San Francisco Ballet Company, and performed in several Broadway musicals and television shows. She worked for over ten years in Hollywood films such as “Oklahoma,” “A Star is Born,” “Pajama Game,” “Lili” and a host of others.
Since 1959 she has developed students into capable professionals and many have been hired as dancers for such shows as “The Andy Williams Show,” Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin specials, and the movies “Bye, Bye, Birdie” and “What Did You Do in the War Daddy?” and also the New York City Ballet Company.
Carey Leverette received his ballet training from Vitalie Fokine, son of the famous Michel Fokine. He studied modern dance with Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham and others. Besides appearing as a featured dancer in numerous films and TV shows, Mr. Leverette choreographed such shows as “Wagon Train,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” Gunsmoke,” the “Joan Caulfield Series,” “Matinee Theatre,” “NBC-TV Summer Auditions,” “Hollywood Angel” and many TV commercials. He also staged the dance sequences for such outstanding films as “Friendly Persuasion,” “Big Country” and others. Mr. Leverette has either partnered, danced with or instructed such talented stars as Joan Caulfield, Jean Simmons, Betty Grable, Janis Paige, Debra Paget, Cyd Charisse, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Joel McCrea, Lori Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor and Doris Day.
Pat Denise was formerly a ballerina with the Ballet Russe under the name of Alexandra Denisova. She was soloist in motion pictures with Danny Kaye and Gene Kelly as well as dance assistant to Fred Astaire, Jack Cole, Michael Kidd and Hermes Pan. She has been personal choreographer to Barrie Chase and Cyd Charisse.
Ruth Godfrey was assistant dance director at Warner Brothers Studio for ten years. She was under contract to Columbia Studios for two years and was the choreographer for “The Ten Commandments” at Paramount. Miss Godfrey has taught such stars as Jimmy Cagney, Gene Nelson, Jane Powell, Ann Sothern and Lucille Ball.
