Florence Rogge

Florence Rogge (December 20, 1904 – October 26, 1992)[1] was an American dancer and choreographer, and artistic director of the Corps de Ballet at Radio City Music Hall from 1932 to 1952.

Florence Rogge
A young white ballerina with bobbed dark hair, wearing a tutu and en pointe, with arms crossed against her chest
Florence Rogge as a young ballerina, from a 1922 newspaper
BornDecember 20, 1904
Detroit, Michigan
DiedOctober 1992
Miami, Florida
Occupation(s)Choreographer, dancer, theatrical producer

Early life and education

Rogge was born in Detroit, Michigan, one of the six daughters of Gustav Rogge and Wilhelmina (Minnie) Berg Rogge. Her father was born in Germany.[2]

Career

Rogge ran a dance studio with Leon Leonidoff in the 1920s, and worked with him and Léonide Massine at the Roxy Theatre.[3][4] She also worked in Toronto for a time, dancing, teaching and directing theatrical productions.[5][6] In 1931, she was a guest artist at a meeting of the New York Society of Teachers of Dancing.[7]

Rogge was the artistic director and choreographer of the Corps de Ballet at Radio City Music Hall[8] from its inaugural program in 1932[9] into the 1950s.[10][11] She designed an original dance program to support each new film shown at the theatre,[12] with fresh programs every few weeks.[13][14] In 1933, the New York Times dance critic John Martin wrote that Rogge's "routines are distinctly of the 'commercial' type, amorphous and styleless."[15] She was the first woman to produce a show at Radio City Music Hall, in 1935.[3] Her sister Harriet was also on the Radio City staff, as a costume designer.[2]

Her Broadway credits included choreography for two shows, The Well of Romance (1930) and Virginia (1937). A painting by Jules Cannert, depicting Rogge in a barefoot dance pose, was the cover illustration of the February 1930 issue of The Dance magazine.[16] Al Hirschfeld drew Rogge at the control board of the Radio City Music Hall stage in 1940.[17]

Rogge retired from Radio City Music Hall in October 1952, succeeded by her assistant, Margaret Sande.[18][19]

Personal life

In 1932, Leon Leonidoff's wife made public accusations about the nature of his relationship with Rogge.[20] In 1933,[2][11] Rogge married businessman Joseph J. Dickman.[3] The Dickmans spent their winters in Florida in the 1950s.[11] She died in Miami, Florida in 1992, at the age of 87.[1][21]

References
  1. Birth and death dates for "Florence Rogge Dickman" in the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; via Ancestry.
  2. Stinnett, Jack (1937-05-05). "She Has Record in Manhattan as Ballet Mistress". The Morning Chronicle. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Florence Rogge Show Producer". The New York Times. 1935-05-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. Martin, John (1929-05-26). "The Dance: A Crisis for Musical Comedy; Spirit of Creation Lags While Talent Is Drawn to Movies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  5. Edel, Leon (1940-08-24). "Florence Rogge is New York's Famous Woman Stage Producer". The Calgary Albertan. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Big Dance Act at Capitol". The Leader-Post. 1922-12-12. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Dancing Teachers Meet; Florence Rogge Is Guest Artist on Program of Wide Range". The New York Times. 1931-04-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  8. Rogers, W. G. (1951-02-25). "Ballet is her Daily Business". Tampa Bay Times. p. 109. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Opfell, Olga Strandvold. "The Dancing Danes in America" The Bridge 9:1 (1986).
  10. "The Theater: Shoot the Works". Time. 1949-07-04. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  11. Wells, Helen (1952-01-28). "Hialeah's Famous Flamingoes Provide Inspiration for Ballet". The Miami News. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "The Birth of a Ballet". The Akron Beacon Journal. 1943-03-14. p. 106. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Hughes, Alice (1950-11-01). "'Flo' Rogge Believes Video Ballet Has Great Future". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "A Dancing Girl Does A Man's Job on Broadway Extravaganzas". The State. 1940-08-25. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Martin, John (January 8, 1933). "The Dance: the First Experiment at Radio City". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via TimesMachine.
  16. Cannert, Jules (February 1930). "Cover illustration, Florence Rogge". The Dance: cover.
  17. Hirschfeld, Al (1940-08-04). "Florence Rogge". Al Hirschfeld Foundation. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  18. "Music Hall Ballet Combines Spectacular and Classic". Fort Lauderdale News. 1954-08-08. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Miss Rogge Yields Spot in Music Hall". The Spokesman-Review. 1952-09-21. p. 60. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Mrs. Leon Leonidoff Sues; In Los Angeles She Asks Separate Maintenance of Roxy Manager". The New York Times. 1932-01-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  21. "Obituary for Florence DICKMAN". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 1992-10-29. p. 27. Retrieved 2023-04-10 – via Newspapers.com.
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