Ballerina—Liza Minnelli

It’s a great moment in any photographer’s life when he captures the magic mood of unposed, unrehearsed pictures like these. They were taken in the Hollywood dancing studio of Nico Charisse, ex-husband of Cyd Charisse. While the photographer was working, Liza Minnelli, all absorbed in her dancing, gave him scant attention. Ask Liza, who appeared with her mother in “The Good Old Summertime,” what she wants to be and she’ll tell you—a ballerina!

The age of anxiety: A quick look at teacher—and Liza begins her dance 

Fancy free: Miss Minnelli gives her all as she swings into a graceful pirouette

When she goes into a pique turn her audience is forgotten

Five little ballerinas point their toes. Liza is second from the right. Their instructor is “Miss Sylvia” Lescoulie 

Babies take a bow: Carrie Rothschild, a four-year-old too, was Liza’s partner in an arabesque 

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE JULY 1950