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Cambridge Who's Who Notable Member Mercedes Ellington |
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Mercedes Elli
ngton, Cambridge Who's Who Lifetime Member and Executive of the Year in Entertainment has made an influential mark on the entertainment industry. She has followed in the steps of her father, Mercer Ellington, a famous musician, arranger and band leader, and her grandfather, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, who was perhaps one of the most influential jazz composers and band leaders of all time.
Born in 1939 to Ruth and Mercer Ellington, Ellington has lived a life full of music. A year after she was born, her parents divorced and her maternal grandparents, Louise and Alfred Silas, took to raising Ellington in Harlem. She began dancing at the age of eighteen months old and shortly thereafter began giving dance and vocal recitals. She went on to receive a bachelors degree in classical and modern dance from Juilliard in 1960 and attended the Metropolitan Opera School of Ballet.
In 1963, Ellington made history when she performed on the Jackie Gleason show as part of the June Taylor Dancers. She was the first African-American in the dance troupe and made television history with her performance. She states that the highlight of her career was being protected by Jackie Gleason when she was being criticized for her appearance as the only African-American woman on the show. Ellington stayed with the June Taylor Dancers for seven years.
Her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher soared as she appeared in numerous Broadway productions. Then in 1981, Ellington became part of the Broadway hit, Sophisticated Ladies, which had a 767-performance run. The production was based on the music of her grandfather, Duke Ellington, and her father, Mercer Ellington, was responsible for the show’s musical direction. Ellington was offered the position of choreographer and featured dancer.
In 1983, Ellington started BalleTap, USA aka DancEllington, Inc., a theatrical tap dance company. She co-founded the company with Maurice Hines and transitioned into working as a full-time choreographer and artistic director. Since then, she has worked mainly as a choreographer and teacher across the country for numerous organizations including the famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She has also used the extensive knowledge and experience she gained over the years to serve as a mentor to others in the entertainment industry. Cambridge Who's Who recognized Ellington’s commitment to her industry and has named her as a Cambridge Who's Who Executive of the Year in Entertainment in 2007.
Ellington attributes her success to the strength she inherited from the women in her family and her determination to accomplish much in life. She serves as a narrator for jazz music and historical programs and upholds the Ellington family’s work in education and professional venues. Her energy, work ethic and ability to reinvent her image allow her to continue working in this ever-changing industry.
Notable Choreography/Productions
Twist, George Street Playhouse
Bring it in the Morning, Apollo Theater, Harlem
PLAY ON!, Broadway
Cotton Club Rhapsody, Club La MaMa
Four Women, Club La MaMa
Home to Harlem, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes
Story T’Ellington, Reel to Real Series, Lincoln Center and Schomburg Center
Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS: Tribute to the Spirit of Harlem, Apollo Theater
Sophisticated Ladies, Broadway
Dreamgirls, Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia
Mercedes Ellington joined Cambridge Who's Who as a lifetime member in November 2006. Inclusion in the Cambridge Who's Who Registry is an honor reserved for individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their industry and profession and for those with strong potential to become leaders in their fields. Mercedes Ellington was selected as a Cambridge Who's Who Executive of the Year in 2007 and for the Cambridge Who's Who Notable Member Wiki because of her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry.
ngton, Cambridge Who's Who Lifetime Member and Executive of the Year in Entertainment has made an influential mark on the entertainment industry. She has followed in the steps of her father, Mercer Ellington, a famous musician, arranger and band leader, and her grandfather, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, who was perhaps one of the most influential jazz composers and band leaders of all time. Born in 1939 to Ruth and Mercer Ellington, Ellington has lived a life full of music. A year after she was born, her parents divorced and her maternal grandparents, Louise and Alfred Silas, took to raising Ellington in Harlem. She began dancing at the age of eighteen months old and shortly thereafter began giving dance and vocal recitals. She went on to receive a bachelors degree in classical and modern dance from Juilliard in 1960 and attended the Metropolitan Opera School of Ballet.
In 1963, Ellington made history when she performed on the Jackie Gleason show as part of the June Taylor Dancers. She was the first African-American in the dance troupe and made television history with her performance. She states that the highlight of her career was being protected by Jackie Gleason when she was being criticized for her appearance as the only African-American woman on the show. Ellington stayed with the June Taylor Dancers for seven years.
Her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher soared as she appeared in numerous Broadway productions. Then in 1981, Ellington became part of the Broadway hit, Sophisticated Ladies, which had a 767-performance run. The production was based on the music of her grandfather, Duke Ellington, and her father, Mercer Ellington, was responsible for the show’s musical direction. Ellington was offered the position of choreographer and featured dancer.
In 1983, Ellington started BalleTap, USA aka DancEllington, Inc., a theatrical tap dance company. She co-founded the company with Maurice Hines and transitioned into working as a full-time choreographer and artistic director. Since then, she has worked mainly as a choreographer and teacher across the country for numerous organizations including the famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She has also used the extensive knowledge and experience she gained over the years to serve as a mentor to others in the entertainment industry. Cambridge Who's Who recognized Ellington’s commitment to her industry and has named her as a Cambridge Who's Who Executive of the Year in Entertainment in 2007.
Ellington attributes her success to the strength she inherited from the women in her family and her determination to accomplish much in life. She serves as a narrator for jazz music and historical programs and upholds the Ellington family’s work in education and professional venues. Her energy, work ethic and ability to reinvent her image allow her to continue working in this ever-changing industry.
Notable Choreography/Productions
Twist, George Street Playhouse
Bring it in the Morning, Apollo Theater, Harlem
PLAY ON!, Broadway
Cotton Club Rhapsody, Club La MaMa
Four Women, Club La MaMa
Home to Harlem, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes
Story T’Ellington, Reel to Real Series, Lincoln Center and Schomburg Center
Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS: Tribute to the Spirit of Harlem, Apollo Theater
Sophisticated Ladies, Broadway
Dreamgirls, Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia
Mercedes Ellington joined Cambridge Who's Who as a lifetime member in November 2006. Inclusion in the Cambridge Who's Who Registry is an honor reserved for individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their industry and profession and for those with strong potential to become leaders in their fields. Mercedes Ellington was selected as a Cambridge Who's Who Executive of the Year in 2007 and for the Cambridge Who's Who Notable Member Wiki because of her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry.
