Paul Haakon

Danish ballet and Broadway dancer

Paul Haakon

Born|

Paul Haakon Løngreen Nilson Panduoro

(1911-09-07)September 7, 1911

Fredericia, Denmark

Died| August 16, 1992(1992-08-16) (aged 80)

New York, NY, U.S.

Resting place| Pohick Church
Nationality| Danish
Occupation| Dancer
Years active| 1933-1970
Spouse|

Violet Dunne Haakon

(m. 1955)​

Children| 3

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

## Life and career[edit]

### Early life[edit]

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

### Career[edit]

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]

### Death[edit]

Haakon died of cancer in New York City on August 16, 1992. He is buried in Pohick Church Cemetery in Fairfax County, Virginia.[7] In an obituary in The Washington Post, Haakon was described as "among the great male ballet dancers of the 20th century".[8]

## Filmography[edit]

### Broadway[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1933  | Champagne, Sec | Himself – Dancer  |
1934  | Music Hath Charms | Venetian Hooligan

Himself – Dancer

1935  | Alma Mater |  |
1935  | At Home Abroad | Himself – Dancer  |
1936  | The Show Is On | Casanova

Himself – Dancer

1937  | Hooray For What! | Himself – Principal Dancer  |
1944  | Mexican Hayride | Paul  |

### Film[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1929  | Wedding on the Volga | Tosha  |
1956  | Around the World in 80 Days | Flamenco dancer at Cave of the Seven Winds  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Paul Haakon". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
2. ^ a b c d e Dunning, Jennifer (1992-08-21). "Paul Haakon, 80, Ballet and Broadway Dancer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
3. ^ a b "Paul Haakon". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
4. ^ "An Inning for the Dance". St. Louis Globe-Democrat Sunday Magazine. August 12, 1934. p. 2.
5. ^ "Paul Haakon". www.tcm.com. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
6. ^ Gruen, John (1988-09-18). "Jose Greco Returns, With His Offspring at His Heels". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
7. ^ "Paul Haakon (1911-1992) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
8. ^ "DEATHS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-10-23.

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

*[m.]: married