Aida Overton Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aida Overton Walker
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Walker in 1907
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| Born | February 14, 1880 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | October 11, 1914 (aged 34) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Vaudeville |
| Known for | Dancing and choreographing (performing) |
Aida Overton Walker (born February 14, 1880 – died October 11, 1914) was an amazing American performer. She was also known as Ada Overton Walker or "The Queen of the Cakewalk". Aida was an actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. She performed in vaudeville shows, which were popular entertainment acts.
Aida often performed with her husband, George Walker, and his partner, Bert Williams. She also worked with groups like Black Patti's Troubadours. Aida was a solo dancer and created dances for shows. Some of these shows included The Red Moon (1908) and His Honor the Barber (1911). She was famous for her "Salome" dance in 1912. This dance was her unique take on a popular trend at the time.
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About Aida Overton Walker
Aida Overton was born in New York City, New York, on February 14, 1880. Her parents, Moses and Pauline, were from North Carolina. Aida received a good education and trained a lot in music.
When she was 15, Aida joined a touring group called "Octoroons." Later, she became a chorus member in “Black Patti's Troubadours.” This is where she met her future husband, George Walker. George was a well-known vaudeville comedian.
Early Career and Marriage
Aida's early career was shaped by her work with George Walker and his partner, Bert Williams. Together, they became very powerful in black vaudeville and musical comedy. Aida and George Walker got married on June 22, 1899. She was 19 years old, and George was 26.
Aida first became famous in 1900. This was for her performance of "Miss Hannah from Savannah" in the show Sons of Ham. For the next ten years, she was mostly known for her work in musical theater. Her singing and dancing made her a big hit with audiences.
Working with Williams and Walker
Aida, George Walker, and Bert Williams worked together on many musicals. These included In Dahomey (1903), In Abyssinia (1906), and Bandanna Land (1908). In 1904, they toured England with In Dahomey for two seasons. After that, the group returned to New York. Aida then created her own version of the Salome dance. This was a very popular dance routine at the time.
Critics highly praised Walker's career and performances. She was very successful and respected in the entertainment industry. She also earned a good amount of money from her work.
Later Career and Solo Acts
In late 1908, George Walker became ill. The partners had to close their show In Dahomey in 1909. Aida left the stage for a while to take care of her husband.
In 1910, Aida Overton Walker joined the Smart Set Company. During this time, she also started touring as a solo performer. In 1911, she performed in His Honor the Barber with the Smart Set Company. Aida even played a male character in Lovie Dear. She also took over her husband's role in Bandanna Land.
Her husband, George Walker, passed away in 1911. In 1912, Aida Overton Walker went on a 16-week tour with her own show. She then returned to New York. There, she performed her famous Salome dance on Broadway. Her success led to an invitation to return the next year. She performed in Bon Bon Buddy, a musical based on a song her husband had made popular. This performance was a tribute to her late husband. It was so successful that she was asked to perform for two extra weeks.
Aida Walker died suddenly in 1914 from kidney failure. She had continued performing until just two months before her death.
In an article from October 1905, Aida Overton Walker shared her thoughts. She believed that performing arts could help improve race relations. She said that her profession did "more toward the alleviation of color prejudice than any other profession among colored people."
See also
In Spanish: Aida Overton Walker para niños
- African-American musical theater
