DOROTHY HENRY

Dorothy Henry was an international dancing sensation, performing all over the world. She got her start when her aunt brought her to a Musical Misses Show Benefit at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis at age 5, where she performed a ballet number. She had just started lessons, but was good enough to join the Kiddie Review in Minneapolis, performing at the State Theater. Louella Morrison held a Thursday musical, where kids from all over the metropolitan area came. Dorothy was spotted by a New York producer.

At 13 she was taking lessons in Chicago, and met up with Jack DeWinter aka Jack Stafford, a vaudeville dancer from Australia who had come to America in 1913. He was looking for a new partner and teamed up with Dorothy. She married Stafford at age 16 – her new husband was 20 years older. In her elaborate costumes, with her mink-covered dog Pierre, she performed all over the world, including the Palladium in London and in South Africa. She danced for such dignitaries as Harry Truman and the Ink Spots.

"Direct from New York, Famous Dancing Star Dorothy Henry” opened her Dancing and Dramatic Studio at the Park Theater on October 1, 1946. She taught "ballet, tap, acrobatic, baton, and dramatic art; also health, carriage, and deportment" at her main studio at 26-1/2 West Lake Street at Nicollet. An ad in a January 1952 TV Times urges us to "Be sure to see Junior Debut on WTCN-TV, Produced and Directed by Dorothy Henry." 

In the 1950s and ‘60s she also had branches in Hopkins and Richfield, and in 1958 she opened a new Park branch at the Jennings Holiday Lodge, 4630 Excelsior Blvd. Lessons were $750 for six weeks, and at one point she taught nearly 500 students per week. She worked as a choreographer for “Children’s Circus,” a radio show for Jack Thayer.

In 1958 and ’59, in one of her most famous performances, Dorothy danced 35 miles on her toes on a treadmill mounted atop a float in the Aquatennial parade – with her dog Toto.

In 1963 and '64 she is listed at 4119 Excelsior, and in 1965 she's listed at 4113 Excelsior – side by side duplexes. In 1965 she built her house at 4200 Yosemite, complete with studio.

Jack Stafford died in April 1963. He was an author, penning Manhattan Rubiyal and The Night I Danced at the White House.

Dorothy and Jack had a son, John M.S. Stafford Jr. who was an accomplished jazz and rock drummer, notably playing with Johnny Green and the Greenmen. John was inducted into the Minnesota Rock/Country Hall of Fame in 2004.

Dorothy's obituary is as follows:

Henry, Dorothy B. 98, St. Louis Park, MN, passed away April 5, 2009. Dorothy was born in Charles City, IA on Oct. 5, 1910, moved to Mpls. shortly thereafter and started dancing at the age of 5. She traveled to Europe, dancing with the ballet, and returned to New York where she was a Vaudeville dancer. She moved back to Minneapolis and opened The Dorothy Henry's Dance Studio on E. Lake Street in the early '40s and later moved to St. Louis Park in the early '50s where she taught until the age of 90. Preceded in death by husband, Jack Stafford; father, Ralph Henry and mother, Blanch A. Henry. Survived by her only son, John Stafford; 5 grandchildren, Tracy, Robin, Jeff, Darwin and John Jr. Dorothy's family would like to thank Park Health & Rehab Center and her good friend, Marian Brummer for all the special care. Celebration of Dorothy's life will take place at Tracy Cornelius' residence on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 4:30 PM. Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996





This picture is from a booklet called "Dorothy in Fairyland, The Story of the Magic Toe Slippers" by Dorothy's husband, Jack de Winter in 1958. 




 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.