Miriam Hailparn, ballet pioneer, was 'charming to the end'

MIRIAM GOLDEN Ziegler Hailparn, who went from Philadelphia to become a ballet star, danced in films with the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and founded a ballet company, died Sept. 30. She was 90 and lived in Los Angeles.

Miriam, who performed under the name Miriam Golden, was the last surviving member of the original American Ballet Theatre, the first dance company to define the American style of ballet.

She was born in Philadelphia to Israel Oscar Goldstein, a pharmacist, and Freda Simons Goldstein. Her sister, Edith Frumin, was a professional opera singer and still lives in Philadelphia. They attended Simon Gratz High School.

Miriam began dancing as a teenager with the Littlefield Ballet, a once-prominent ballet company founded in Philadelphia by Catherine Littlefield. It was the first American ballet company to tour Europe.

Miriam then danced with the short-lived Ballet Caravan, started in 1936 by Lincoln Kirstein to provide a platform for young choreographers. George Balanchine staged shows with the group.

She became a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, performing in the inaugural performance at Rockefeller Center in January 1940.

She danced principal roles in Anthony Tudor's "Romeo and Juliet" (1943) with a young Jerome Robbins in the role of Benvolio, and the first U.S. performance of Tudor's "Dark Elegies" (1940). She also danced in the company's large repertoire of new ballets, including "Billy the Kid" (1941) and "Rodeo" (1942), both with music by Aaron Copland.

Miriam settled down in Los Angeles in the 1940s and became a member of the "Goldwyn Girls," a stock company of female dancers employed by Samuel Goldwyn, and danced in several MGM movies.

She danced in the musical film "Showboat" (1951), and was a rehearsal partner for a number of star dancers, including Astaire, Kelly and Cyd Charisse.

With Irina Kosmovska, Miriam founded the Los Angeles Junior Ballet. It became the foundation for L.A.'s first professional ballet company, the Los Angeles Ballet, under the artistic direction of John Clifford.

She married businessman Herbert Ziegler in 1946. The marriage ended in divorce in 1974, and she later married Fred Hailparn, who died in 1995.

"She spent her last years in Beverly Hills, glamorous and charming to the end," said her son Robert Ziegler.

She also is survived by another son, George; a daughter, Ellen; and five grandchildren.

Services: Will be in Los Angeles on Sunday.