11 Facts About Vera Zorina

Vera Zorina, born Eva Brigitta Hartwig, was a German-Norwegian ballerina, theatre and film actress, and choreographer, chiefly remembered for her films choreographed by her husband George Balanchine.

Vera Zorina's father Fritz Hartwig was a German lapsed Roman Catholic, and her mother Abigail Johanne Wimpelmann was Norwegian and Lutheran.

Vera Zorina received her education at the Lyceum for Girls in Berlin and was trained in dance by Olga Preobrajenska and Nicholas Legat.

Vera Zorina was given a list of 20 and chose the last one because she could pronounce it.

Vera Zorina appeared in seven Hollywood movies between 1938 and 1946.

Vera Zorina subsequently commanded the role many times, including the recording at the Royal Festival Hall in June 1966, with the London Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa.

Vera Zorina was active with Lincoln Center as an adviser and director and, for several seasons, directed operas at the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico.

Vera Zorina was married in 1938 to choreographer George Balanchine ; the couple divorced in 1946.

Vera Zorina danced in productions he choreographed for both stage and screen, including On Your Toes, a Broadway hit later adapted for the screen by Lawrence Riley.

Vera Zorina was the grandmother of sisters Elizabeth, Katherine, and Kristina Lieberson, who were members of the band TEEN.

Vera Zorina was a devout Catholic and Oblate of the Benedictine Order.