Dora Dean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dora Dean
Dora Dean taken from the sheet music cover of Don't Think You'd Like to Fondle Me by Hughie Cannon, c.1900.
Born	Dora Babbige 1872 Cloverport, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	December 13, 1949(1949-12-13) (aged 76–77) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Vaudeville
Known for	Dancing and Choreographing

Dora Dean was a famous American dancer and entertainer. She was born around 1872 as Dora Babbige. She became very well-known for her vaudeville acts before World War I. Dora Dean helped make the "cakewalk" dance popular around the world. She performed with her husband and dance partner, Charles E. Johnson, as the duo "Dean and Johnson."

Early Life of Dora Dean

Dora Dean was born in Kentucky, in a town called Cloverport. Some records say she might have been born in Covington, Kentucky. Before she became a professional dancer, she worked as a nursemaid in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dora Dean's Amazing Career

Dora Dean started her dancing career with a traveling show. When she performed in vaudeville, people often called her "The Black Venus" because of her beauty.

Dean and Johnson: A Unique Act

Early in their partnership, Dora Dean and Charles Johnson decided to create a different kind of act. They wanted to avoid old-fashioned, stereotypical humor. Instead, they aimed for high-quality performances. They bought beautiful costumes and jewelry to make their shows look even better.

They were known for several "firsts" in entertainment:

• They were the first African American couple to perform on Broadway, a famous theater district in New York City.
• They were the first to use special strobe lighting effects in their shows.
• They were also the first to use steel taps on their shoes, which made their dancing sounds clearer.

International Performances

In 1903, Dora and Charles moved to Europe. They spent most of their time performing there. They also traveled to Australia and the United States for special shows. In 1902, they even performed for King Edward VII at the famous Palace Theatre in London.

The couple stopped performing together in 1914 to work on their own careers. Dora Dean appeared in a movie called Georgia Rose in 1930. After 20 years, they reunited for a short time, but vaudeville was becoming less popular.

Dora Dean's Legacy

Dora Dean's beauty inspired many songs. Two famous ones include:

• "Dora Dean The Sweetest Gal You Ever Seen" (1896) by the performer and composer Bert Williams.
• "Dora Dean's Sister" (1902) by Joseph F. Lamb.

In 1946, a radio game show host named John Reed King asked "Who is Dora Dean?" No one in the audience knew the answer. This showed how, even though she was once very famous, her name had become less known over time.

Later Years and Passing

Dora Dean and Charles Johnson got back together, both professionally and personally, in 1934. They retired from performing by 1942. In their later years, they lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dora Dean passed away in Minneapolis in 1949.