Zizi Jeanmaire
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Renee Marcelle Jeanmaire (born April 29 1924) is a ballet dancer and wife of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s because of her titular role in the ballet Carmen, produced in London in 1949.
Life and Works
Born in Paris, France, she met her future husband and long-time collaborator Roland Petit at the Paris Opera Ballet at the age of nine. In 1954 they married, and their successful shows put in her on the route to stardom. By this time she was the prima ballerina at Les Ballet des Champs Elysees. She became noted for her energy and passion.
This led to a brief stint in Hollywood (where she was credited as Jeanmaire), appearing in the musicals Hans Christian Andersen (1952) and Anything Goes (1956). After that she concentrated on ballet, producing more than 60 shows with Roland.
She was the subject of a documentary by Mischa Scorer in 1998 entitled Zizi, Je T'Aime. Zizi is also mentioned (along with Marlene Dietrich) in the 1969 UK number one hit Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) by Peter Sarstedt.
Film Credits
- Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
- Anything Goes (1956)
- Folies-Bergère (1957)
- Charmants garçons (1957)
- Guinguette (1959)
- 1-2-3-4 ou Les Collants noirs (1960)
External Links
- A Tribute to Gainsbourg, Zizi Jeanmaire interprète (http://www.gainsbourg.org/vrsn3/html/disco/interpretes/interpretes_zizijeanmaire.html) French