From her
earliest years she was called Sid, because her older brother
couldn't say "sister." She was a sickly girl who
started taking dance lessons to build up her strength after
a bout with polio. Cyd studied ballet
as a child and later joined the Ballet Russe in 1934 as
'Felia Sidorova' and became part of the corps de ballet
and toured the U.S. and Europe. To appear Russian with the
nearly all-Russian company, she was first billed as 'Celia
Siderova,' than as 'Maria Istromena.' Cyd was also known
as 'Maria Istomina', 'Felia Sidorva' and 'Lily Norwood'
in many ballet theater programs.
After her
fathers death, Cyd moved to Los Angeles where she met Nico
and they partnered up as dance partners, then later Nico
became Cyd's dance teacher. Later, Cyd married Nico Charisse
in 1939. In the 1930's, Nico Charisse taught dance in Hollywood
at 1358 N. La Brea and was quite a famous dancer in his
day. One of his students at his studio was 12 year old Tula
Finklea a.k.a. Cyd Charisse. Five years later they eloped
in 1939 while in France - she was only 17.
They have one son together
(Nicky.) Their marriage ended in divorce in 1947 and Cyd
Charisse later married singer
Tony
Martin. In 1953 Nico, age 46, married another student of his,
Zita Torres, age 26. He continued to coach a number of entertainers
in his style of dance during his years in Hollywood. Nico Charisse
died in 1970 at age 64.
Robert Tucker and
Nenette Charisse married, Tucker was a Choreographer and Nenette
was Cyd's Aunt who was a ballet teacher. Cyd was related to Zan
Charisse, Nana Visitor, Ian Tucker.
Cyd later danced with
many movie greats such as Gene
Kelly and Fred Astaire
plus danced with others such as Ricardo Montalban, Roland Petit,
and James Mitchell as well as acted and danced in many other movies.
Cyd was said to have the best legs in show business at the time
and was sometimes billed as having "the most celebrated set
of legs in Hollywood history." Cyd Charisse died in 2008
at age 86.
Ballrooms
