Ann Reinking

Ann Reinking
Jack Mitchell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Ann Reinking
Birth date	March 10, 1949
Birth place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Death date	December 12, 2020
Death place	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Dancer, choreographer, actress, singer
Years active	1967–2019
Partner	Peter Talbert (divorced)

Ann Reinking

Ann Reinking was an American dancer, choreographer, actress, and singer noted for her work on Broadway, in film, and in the development and preservation of dance styles associated with Bob Fosse. A principal interpreter of Fosse-inflected choreography, she influenced musical theatre through stage performances, film appearances, and teaching that bridged generations of performers, directors, and institutions such as the Broadway musical community, The Broadway League, and regional companies.

Early life and education

Born in Seattle, Washington, Reinking grew up in a family with roots in the Pacific Northwest and began ballet studies as a child, studying with local teachers and later at programs that linked to institutions like the School of American Ballet and regional conservatories. As a teenager she moved into commercial dance, connecting with agencies that worked with productions associated with figures like Bob Fosse, Robert Altman, and touring companies from the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. Early training exposed her to teachers and choreographers who had worked with icons such as Gene Kelly, Jerome Robbins, Martha Graham, and Agnes de Mille.

Career

Reinking's professional career began in the late 1960s, when she joined touring productions and nightclub revues that intersected with the careers of performers including Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, Gwen Verdon, and Carol Channing. She made her Broadway debut in shows connected to producers and directors like Harold Prince, Hal Prince, and Bob Fosse, moving between ensemble work and featured roles in musicals often produced by houses such as Shubert Organization and Nederlander Organization. In the 1970s and 1980s she worked in film and television projects that brought her into collaboration with directors such as Martin Scorsese, Sydney Pollack, and Bob Fosse himself, expanding her profile beyond Broadway into Hollywood and national touring circuits.

Major stage and film roles

Reinking appeared in Broadway productions and West End transfers that linked her to major works including productions of titles associated with Chicago (musical), Sweet Charity, and revivals produced by companies like Royal Shakespeare Company when they intersected with musical theatre. She performed principal roles alongside stars such as Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Ann-Margret, and Joel Grey, and was noted for performances in shows produced by entities like Cameron Mackintosh and directors connected to Trevor Nunn and Bob Fosse. On film, she appeared in motion pictures and concert films that associated with choreographers and directors who had worked with performers including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly; these screen credits connected her to ensembles and casts that toured internationally in festivals organized by institutions such as the Cannes Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

Choreography and collaborations

As a choreographer and movement consultant, Reinking specialized in preserving and adapting the Fosse style, collaborating with artists and institutions like Bob Fosse, Joel Grey, Gwen Verdon, Liza Minnelli, and directors associated with Broadway revivals and concert stagings. She staged and reconstructed choreography for productions produced by companies such as Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, and touring organizations affiliated with the National Endowment for the Arts. Reinking also worked with dance and theatre educators connected to the Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama, and conservatories that train performers for companies including American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet, passing on techniques derived from choreographers like Jack Cole and Bob Fosse. Her collaborations extended to television specials and awards shows produced by organizations like the Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and Kennedy Center Honors, where she served as choreographer, consultant, or staging director.

Awards and honors

Reinking received major honors for performance and choreography from bodies such as the Tony Award committee, the Drama Desk Awards, and critics’ circles tied to institutions like The New York Times and the New York Drama Critics' Circle. Her work on revivals and reconstructions earned her accolades from regional arts organizations and national foundations including the Kennedy Center and arts councils connected to state arts agencies. She was recognized by peers in organizations such as Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild for contributions that linked performance, preservation, and pedagogy within the musical theatre field.

Personal life and later years

Reinking's personal life intersected with figures from the theatrical and cinematic communities; she had relationships and professional partnerships with artists and producers connected to companies such as MGM, Columbia Pictures, and theatrical producers active on Broadway. In later years she founded and supported dance education initiatives and preservation projects linked to institutions like the Museum of the City of New York and nonprofit organizations focused on performing arts heritage. Reinking died in Seattle in December 2020, leaving a legacy celebrated by companies, critics, and performers across the musical theatre and dance communities, including tributes from organizations such as The Broadway League and institutions that continue staging Fosse-inspired works.

Category:American female dancers Category:American choreographers Category:1949 births Category:2020 deaths