Born Name:  Iva Kitchell

Born Date:  March 31, 1908

Born Place:  Junction City, Kansas

Died Date:  November 19, 1983

Died Place:  Daytona Beach, Florida

Occupations:  Concert dancer, dance satirist, comedian

Brief Biography:  Iva Kitchell was known for her parodies of classical ballet and modern dance. Born Emma Baugh in Junction City, Kansas, she was adopted at age three by Robert W. Kitchell.

Early Career and Transition to Comedy:
Ballet Beginnings: She began her professional career at age 14 by lying about her age to join the Chicago Civic Opera Ballet.
Discovery of Talent: Realizing she was too small to become a prima ballerina, she began mocking the seriousness of performances backstage. Instead of being disciplined, she was encouraged to develop her comedic mimicry into a solo act.
Philosophy: Her routines were based on the idea that there is "something ridiculous about anything that is too serious".

Career Highlights:
Major Venues: She became a featured performer at Radio City Music Hall and gave multiple notable recitals at Carnegie Hall throughout the 1940s.
International Success: For over 20 years, she toured the United States and Europe with her one-woman shows, often backed by her imaginary "Invisible Ballet Company".
Collaborations: She worked with the American Ballet Theatre and performed at Jacob's Pillow.