Baayork Lee

Baayork Lee
Baayork Lee received the 2014 Paul Robeson Citation Award, presented by Actors’ Equity Foundation, at the beginning of AEA’s membership meeting on October 10, 2014, at the Actors Equity Building in New York.
Born	New York, New York
Occupation	Actress, Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Theatre Director, Author
Years active	1951–present

Baayork Lee (born December 5, 1946) is an Asian-American actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, theatre director, and author.

Lee was born in New York City's Chinatown to an Indian mother and Chinese father. She started dancing at an early age, and she made her Broadway debut at the age of five as Princess Ying Yawolak in the original production of The King and I in 1951. Yul Brynner, the original king, was like a second father to her. After she outgrew the show, she first collected unemployment at age eight. With further dance study in ballet, modern, and afro-Cuban, she appeared in George Balanchine's original production of The Nutcracker, where she met another idol, ballerina Maria Tallchief, whom she hoped to emulate.

While attending the High School for Performing Arts, she met fellow student Michael Bennett, and appeared in Flower Drum Song, in which she was taught to walk in high heels. When reaching her full height of four foot, ten inches (147 cm), her dreams of becoming a ballerina were dashed because she was deemed too short. Next, when offered a scholarship to Juilliard, Lee instead chose to further her career and Broadway appearances included Mr. President, Golden Boy, and Here's Love. Her next three shows were all choreographed by her old friend, Michael Bennett: A Joyful Noise, Henry, Sweet Henry, and Promises, Promises (in which she performed the famous dance Turkey Lurkey Time with Donna McKechnie and Margo Sappington). Lee was dance captain for Promises, Promises, and recreated the choreography for subsequent touring productions, starting her future path as choreographer.