Paul Haakon

Paul Haakon (September 7, 1911 – August 16, 1992), born Paul Haakon Løngreen Nilson Panduoro, was a Danish Ballet and Broadway dancer.

Haakon was born on September 8, 1911, in Fredericia, Denmark.^[1] He studied ballet at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen.^[2]

Haakon made his Broadway debut in 1933 in Champagne, Sec and continued to dance in numerous Broadway productions.^[3] He also performed in vaudeville acts at Radio City Music Hall alongside lead ballerina Patricia Bowman.^[2] In 1935, he briefly joined the American Ballet. During this period, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat noted that he had danced with Pavlova and called him "another Nijinski."^[4]

During World War II, Haakon toured with the United Service Organizations.^[2] He returned to the stage in the mid-forties, choreographing and dancing for Mexican Hayride and choreographing Spook Scandals.^[3] Expanding into television and film, Haakon also appeared on The Milton Berle Show,^[1] danced for the 1956 movie Around the World in 80 Days, and was the assistant dance director for the film So This Is Love.^[5]

Haakon joined the Jose Greco Spanish Ballet as a performer, eventually also serving as ballet master and production manager.^[2] Haakon and Greco developed a close friendship, and Haakon remained with the group until his retirement.^[6]

In 1970, Haakon retired from dance. In his later years, he worked as a salesman and a mail handler.^[2]

Haakon died of cancer in New York City on August 16, 1992. In an obituary in The Washington Post, Haakon was described as "among the great male ballet dancers of the 20th century".^[7]