Othella Dallas facts for kids

Othella Dallas (born September 26, 1925 – died November 28, 2020) was a talented American dancer and jazz singer. After performing in cities like Paris and Zurich, she opened her own dance school. This school was in Basel, Switzerland, and she started it in 1975. At her school, she taught a special dance style called the Dunham technique.

Life as a Dancer and Singer

Othella came from a very musical family. Her mother was the first African American pianist to play on the radio in St. Louis! Even the famous musician W. C. Handy used to babysit her. Her half-brother, Frank Strozier, also became a musician.

Discovering Dance

In 1943, a famous dancer named Katherine Dunham saw Othella perform at school. Katherine was so impressed that she invited Othella to join her dance company in New York. Othella became a solo dancer and traveled all over the world with the company. She performed in places like South America and Europe.

Singing Career

After getting married, Othella moved to France in 1949. There, she started performing as a singer in 1952. She even sang with music legends like Sidney Bechet and Nat King Cole.

Othella also opened dance schools in other cities. She had one in France and another in Zurich in the 1960s. Famous people like Margrit Läubli and Duke Ellington were among those she taught or worked with. Duke Ellington even wrote two songs just for her!

Her first recordings as a singer were made in 1967. She continued to release more albums starting in the 1980s.

Later Years and Legacy

When Othella turned 70, she performed for three weeks in Basel. She later went on tour in Russia. Her 2008 CD, I Live the Life I Love, led to performances at the Festival da Jazz in St. Moritz and the Theater Rigiblick in Zurich.

A documentary film was made about her life. It was called "Othella Dallas - What Is Luck?" and came out in 2015.

Othella's dance workshops were very popular. She held them in Basel and other European cities like London. People loved them because she was one of the last active teachers who had actually danced with Katherine Dunham herself.

As a jazz singer, Othella Dallas toured Switzerland in 2019. This tour was called the "94th Anniversary Tour," celebrating her long career.

Music Albums (Discography)

• Little Girl from Memphis: The Show 1925-1995 (Mons Records 1995)
• Fever for Bluesy Jazz (Mons Records 1995)
• What's This Thing Called Love? (Brambus Records 2000)
• I Live the Life I Love (Suonix 2008)

Awards and Recognition

• 2019: Swiss Jazz Award