Nanette Bearden
American choreographer, dancer, and model (1927–1996)
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Nanette Bearden (née Rohan; January 20, 1927 – August 10, 1996) was an American choreographer, dancer, artistic director, and model. She founded the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theater and the Romare Bearden Foundation.
January 20, 1927
Nanette Bearden | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nanette Rohan January 20, 1927 Staten Island, New York |
| Died | August 10, 1996 (aged 69) Staten Island, New York |
| Education | |
| Occupations | |
| Spouse | Romare Bearden |
| Career | |
| Former groups | New World Dancers |
Early life and education
Nanette Rohan[1] was born on January 20, 1927 on Staten Island, New York, one of eight daughters[2] born to immigrants from French Saint Martin.[3]
She studied modeling at the Fashion Institute of Technology[2] and was active in fashion modeling in the 1950s.[4] In September 1954, she married the artist Romare Bearden.[5]
Bearden later studied dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, and at the Luigi Dance Center.[2]
Dance career
Later life
Bearden established a fine arts gallery on the island of St. Martin[6] and promoted local artists there.[3]
Romare Bearden Foundation
Romare Bearden died in 1988. His wish before his death was for a foundation to preserve his art work and promote "rising artists of color".[8] Nanette Bearden resolved to create a foundation in his name and his estate established a nonprofit organization, the Romare Bearden Foundation in 1990.[9][10] She was its president from 1990 until 1996 when she died.[9][10] Her sisters and then her niece have continued overseeing the foundation.[8]
Death
On August 10, 1996, Bearden died of a pulmonary embolism at St. Vincent's Medical Center on Staten Island.[2][6]
Upon her death, the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre was dissolved. It was re-established in 2004 by her sister, Sheila Rohan[7] who had performed with the dance theatre.[11]