User:C3t9547/sandbox

Early Life

 * Mary Ann Lee was born in 1826, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Charles Lee and Wilhelmina Lee.: Both of her parents were performers and in the theatrical business.  Her mother in particular had a dance background.  That is how her interest and passion for dance began.

Mary Ann Lee began displaying her theatrical talents in theater. She took on the roles of being Francie in the play Guy Mannering, and Eustache in the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Theater however, was not where she was supposed to be. She was supposed to be dancing. On December 30th she made her debut as a dancer. She in fact made a double debut dancing the role of Fatima, in the ballet called, The Maid of Cashmere, at the Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received excellent reviews and praise, for her dancing abilities.

Career

 * October 25, 1844, after getting the proper paperwork for their passports and Mary Ann Lee and her mother journeyed to Paris, France to continue her dance education.: While in Paris, she trained with instructor Jean Coralli.  She learned she was graceful and agile, but that she lacked precision, and freedom of execution.  She continued to learn, and her goal was to perfect her dancing technique.  While in Paris, she learned a lot about technique, but she also learned about romantic music, and a lot about herself as a person.  In September of 1845, Mary Ann Lee, returned home, with hopes of showing America, her newly learned skills.  Mary Ann Lee, was the very first to bring romantic ballet techniques from Europe to America.  Her first performance after coming back was on November 24th, 1845.  The audience thoroughly enjoyed her performance, and commented on how she greatly improved since before she left for Europe.  On January 1, 1846 Giselle was presented for the very first time in America by Mary Ann Lee. She was very well received.  In 1846 and 1847 she continued dancing in both Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana.  She continued her role in Giselle while also taking up roles in La Bayadère, Fleurs des Champs, and other small productions.  She finally announced her retirement in Philadelphia in May of 1847.

Later in Life
Lee and Vanhook had three children together. Marie born in 1850, Charles Hunt, born in 1851 who unfortunately died as an infant, and Mabel born in 1854. After her marriage to Vanhook, she made a few brief returns to the stage. One was in December of 1849 she returned to the stage in New Orleans. She also made a brief return to the stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850. : Along with returning to the stage, she also became a dance instructor.: She opened the dancing Academy of Mary Ann Vanhook, on the fourth floor of 527 North Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This opportunity allowed her to be able to teach the younger generation about their skills and improve their technique. She became a grandmother in 1874, when her daughter Marie gave birth to a son, George Van Hook Potter. On January 26, 1899 at the age of 73, Mary Ann Vanhook, died in the home of her daughter Marie, the cause being old age.