Dean, Dora (c. 1872–1950)

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Dean, Dora (c. 1872–1950)

African-American theatrical dancer. Name variations: Dora Babbige. Born c. 1872 in Covington, Kentucky; died Jan 1950 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Had 1st major performance in The Creole Show in Boston (1889), where she danced the cakewalk to great acclaim; appeared with dance partner Charles Johnson at vaudeville theaters in NY and throughout Northeast, the 1st black dance duo booked as a "class act"; performed popular act at Madison Square Garden (1895) and toured Europe to great success; split from Johnson and returned to US (1914), where she performed on vaudeville circuits with the successful Dora Dean and Co. and Dora Dean and Her Phantoms; retired (1920s).

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