Marion Cuyjet and George Chaffee
Marion Cuyjet, who would often bring her students to New York City in order to strengthen their technique and talents, began a friendship with George Chaffee. Since they passed for white, Cuyjet, her daughter, and her student Donna Lowe were permitted to take Chaffee’s class. He additionally taught both Cuyjet and her other students privately. Ironically, this dancing in the shadows forced an intimacy and a focus that, in the end, made Cuyjet a master teacher. Chaffee was an ally and supported her in every way he could.
More about George Chaffee
In addition to being a star of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, George Chaffee (born ca. 1908) danced in the companies of Michel Fokine and Mikhail Mordkin. Chaffee directed his own studio on West 56th Street in New York City and led a chamber ballet company. His notable students included John Gilpin and Alicia Alonso.
Chaffee contributed historical writing to various dance publications including Dance Magazine, Dance News, Lincoln Kirstein’s Dance Index, and the Dance Encyclopedia.
His collection of ballet materials is housed in the New York Public Library Dance Collection at Lincoln Center and in New York museums. From his collection, he put together “A Retrospective Exhibit of the French Court and Opera Ballet (1851 to 1948)” at the French Embassy. The French government thus “decorated” him with the Palmes académiques.
Chaffee died at 77 years old in October 1984 after a stroke.
Sources:
George Chaffee, 77, Dancer, Ballet Teacher and Collector, The New York Times
Future Ballerinas Win Fokine School Auditions, Ridgewood Herald-News
US Ballet Enjoying National Renaissance, Austin American-Statesman
Written and/or compiled by Mad Crawford
