Paul Haakon
Born
Paul Haakon Løngreen Nilson Panduoro

(1911-09-07)September 7, 1911
Fredericia, Denmark
DiedAugust 16, 1992(1992-08-16) (aged 80)
New York, NY, U.S.
Resting placePohick Church
NationalityDanish
OccupationDancer
Years active1933–1970
Spouse
Violet Dunne Haakon
​
(m. 1955)​
Children3

Paul Haakon (September 7, 1911 – August 16, 1992), born Paul Haakon Løngreen Nilson Panduoro, was a Danish Ballet and Broadway dancer.

Life and career

Early life

Haakon was born on September 8, 1911, in Fredericia, Denmark.[1] He studied ballet at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen.[2]

Career

Haakon made his Broadway debut in 1933 in Champagne, Sec and continued to dance in numerous Broadway productions.[3] He also performed in vaudeville acts at Radio City Music Hall alongside lead ballerina Patricia Bowman.[2] In 1935, he briefly joined the American Ballet. During this period, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat noted that he had danced with Pavlova and called him "another Nijinski."[4]

During World War II, Haakon toured with the United Service Organizations.[2] He returned to the stage in the mid-forties, choreographing and dancing for Mexican Hayride and choreographing Spook Scandals.[3] Expanding into television and film, Haakon also appeared on The Milton Berle Show,[1] danced for the 1956 movie Around the World in 80 Days, and was the assistant dance director for the film So This Is Love.[5]

Haakon joined the Jose Greco Spanish Ballet as a performer, eventually also serving as ballet master and production manager.[2] Haakon and Greco developed a close friendship, and Haakon remained with the group until his retirement.[6]

In 1970, Haakon retired from dance. In his later years, he worked as a salesman and a mail handler.[2]

Death

Haakon died of cancer in New York City on August 16, 1992. He is buried in Pohick Church Cemetery in Fairfax County, Virginia.[7] In an obituary in The Washington Post, Haakon was described as "among the great male ballet dancers of the 20th century".[8]

Filmography

Broadway

Year Title Role Notes
1933 Champagne, Sec Himself – Dancer
1934 Music Hath Charms Venetian Hooligan

Himself – Dancer
1935 Alma Mater
1935 At Home Abroad Himself – Dancer
1936 The Show Is On Casanova

Himself – Dancer
1937 Hooray For What! Himself – Principal Dancer
1944 Mexican Hayride Paul

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1929 Wedding on the Volga Tosha
1956 Around the World in 80 Days Flamenco dancer at Cave of the Seven Winds

References

  1. 1 2 "Paul Haakon". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Dunning, Jennifer (1992-08-21). "Paul Haakon, 80, Ballet and Broadway Dancer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  3. 1 2 "Paul Haakon". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  4. ↑ "An Inning for the Dance". St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine. August 12, 1934. p. 2.
  5. ↑ "Paul Haakon". www.tcm.com. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  6. ↑ Gruen, John (1988-09-18). "Jose Greco Returns, With His Offspring at His Heels". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  7. ↑ "Paul Haakon (1911-1992) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  8. ↑ "DEATHS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
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