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WASHINGTON, Jul 12, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Washington School of Ballet co-founder Mary Day has died of complications from heart disease at age 96.
Day, founder of the world reknowned Washington Ballet company and grande dame of the classical dance scene for six decades, died at her Washington home Tuesday, the Washington Post reported.
The Washington School of Ballet, which Day started in 1944 with dancer Lisa Gardiner, is considered one of the nation's premiere training facilities for classical dancers. Day took over the sole direction of the school after Gardiner's death in 1958.
Her annual presentation of "The Nutcracker," which debuted in 1961, has become a holiday tradition in the nation's capital.
Many of Day's students went on to dance with major ballet troupes across the United States, the Post said.
Day stepped down from her duties at the school in 1999.
The ballerina and teacher -- who grew up an only child -- devoted her life to dance and never married or had children.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
