Sono Osato

Sono Osato, born on August 29, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a distinguished American dancer and actress of mixed Japanese and European heritage.

Born to Shoji Osato, a Japanese caretaker of the Phoenix Pavilion and its accompanying Japanese garden, and Frances Fitzpatrick, who had Irish-French Canadian roots, Sono grew up in a culturally rich environment. The family faced challenges during World War II when her father was interned in Chicago due to the government's policies against Japanese Americans. As the eldest of three siblings, Sono's name, which translates to "garden" in Japanese, reflects her heritage. Her family played a significant role during the war, with her brother Timothy serving in the esteemed 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Osato's artistic journey began at the age of 14 with the Ballets Russe de Monte-Carlo, leading her to the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), where she performed in notable works like Kenneth MacMillan's *Sleeping Beauty* and Antony Tudor's *Pillar of Fire*. Her Broadway achievements include starring as Ivy Smith in the original production of *On the Town*, earning a Donaldson Award for *One Touch of Venus*, and a role in *Ballet Ballads*. In the late 1940s and 1950s, she ventured into acting, appearing in *Peer Gynt* on Broadway and the film *The Kissing Bandit*.

Dedicated to supporting fellow dancers, Osato established the Sono Osato Scholarship Program to aid former dancers pursuing graduate studies. She married real estate developer Victor Elmaleh in 1943, with whom she had two sons, and she remains fluent in both English and Japanese.