Shirley Silver Selis -€“ 8-March-2002 -€“ Weaving Women'€™s Words

About this film

Oral historian Elaine Eff interviewed Shirley Selis on March 8, March 13, and May 5, 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland as part of the Jewish Womenâs Archive "Weaving Women's Words" project. Known as "Fuzzy" to her friends and family, Shirley Selis was born in 1917 in Baltimore and developed a lifelong passion for dance in childhood. A frail child, Fuzzy's parents sent her to learn eurythmics at the Peabody Conservatory, where she was recruited for ballet at age ten. When the Depression made it difficult for the family to pay for her ballet lessons, she received a scholarship that allowed her to continue. Early in life, Shirley absorbed a sense of openness and curiosity from her parents, who hosted a weekly salon for the discussion of politics and the issues of the day. In 1938, she married Jacob "Johnny" Selis, who encouraged her to travel to New York for classes with the American Ballet Theater throughout their marriage. After the birth of their children, Vivienne and James, Fuzzy began teaching ballet, eventually creating her own dance studio. Following in the spirit of her parents' salons, she opened her home to European exchange students with whom she has remained in close contact th…

Directors & creators

Jewish Women's Archive

Subjects

Dance; Education

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