Leon Danielian
Early life and career
Early life and career
---------------------

Leon Danielian, born in [New York City](/wiki/New_York_City "New York City"), was the son of [Armenian](/wiki/Armenians "Armenians") immigrants Frank and Varsik (Coolidganian) Danielian. As a child, he took private ballet classes with Madame Seda Suny, a well\-known Armenian dance teacher, and later continued his studies under [Mikhail Mordkin](/wiki/Mikhail_Mordkin "Mikhail Mordkin"), [Michel Fokine](/wiki/Michel_Fokine "Michel Fokine"), Igor Schwezoff, and Vecheslav Swoboda.Alice Helpern, "Danielian, Leon," in *American National Biography* (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999\). He made his debut with the Mordkin Ballet in 1937, became a charter member of [Ballet Theatre](/wiki/Ballet_Theatre "Ballet Theatre") in 1939, and appeared, briefly, with Colonel [Wassily de Basil](/wiki/Wassily_de_Basil "Wassily de Basil")'s [Original Ballet Russe](/wiki/Original_Ballet_Russe "Original Ballet Russe") in 1941\. He also danced in Broadway musicals during these early years.[Horst Koegler](/wiki/Horst_Koegler "Horst Koegler"), "Danielian, Leon," in *The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Ballet*, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 1987\), p. 115\. In 1943 he joined [Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo](/wiki/Ballet_Russe_de_Monte_Carlo "Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo") as a soloist and remained with that company until 1961, having become a *premier danseur* with an unusually wide repertory. Admired for his classical technique as well as his gift for comedy, he made many guest appearances with other companies, among them Les Ballets de Champs\-Élysées, as partner to [Yvette Chauviré](/wiki/Yvette_Chauvir%C3%A9 "Yvette Chauviré"), and [San Francisco Ballet](/wiki/San_Francisco_Ballet "San Francisco Ballet"), which toured internationally.Hunt, "Danielian, Leon" (1998\), p. 341\.


Why is it significant that Leon Danielian was a charter member of Ballet Theatre?