Paul Haakon

Paul Haakon, born Paul Haakon Løngreen Nilson Panduoro on September 7, 1911, in Fredericia, Denmark, was a Danish ballet and Broadway dancer whose stage career spanned from 1933 to 1944. He received his early training in ballet at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen before establishing himself as a prominent figure in American dance.

Haakon made his Broadway debut in 1933 in Champagne, Sec and went on to appear in a range of productions including the revue At Home Abroad, the musical Music Hath Charms, and the musical Hooray for What! Beyond Broadway, he performed in vaudeville acts at Radio City Music Hall alongside lead ballerina Patricia Bowman, and in 1935 briefly joined the American Ballet. During this period, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat noted that he had danced with Pavlova and referred to him as "another Nijinski."

During World War II, Haakon toured with the United Service Organizations. He returned to the stage in the mid-1940s, both choreographing and dancing in Mexican Hayride and choreographing Spook Scandals. His work extended into film and television as well: he appeared on The Milton Berle Show, danced in the 1956 film Around the World in 80 Days, and served as assistant dance director on So This Is Love.

Haakon later joined the Jose Greco Spanish Ballet as a performer, subsequently taking on the roles of ballet master and production manager. He and Greco developed a close friendship, and Haakon remained with the company until his retirement from dance in 1970. In his later years he worked as a salesman and a mail handler.

Haakon died of cancer in New York City on August 16, 1992. An obituary published in The Washington Post described him as "among the great male ballet dancers of the 20th century."