Overview
Marjorie Celeste "Marge" Champion (née Belcher; September 2, 1919 – October 21, 2020) was an American dancer, choreographer and actress whose career spanned much of the 20th century and into the 21st. She first gained public attention as a young performer and later became widely known both as a solo artist and as half of the celebrated dance team with her husband, choreographer and director Gower Champion. Her work encompassed film, Broadway and television, and she remained active as a teacher and artistic resource for decades.
Career and artistic profile
Champion's performing style combined classical technique with a sense of theatricality appropriate to musical films and stage revues. She was frequently employed as a reference model and performer in early Hollywood and worked across multiple formats, bringing refined partnering skills, precise musical timing and an emphasis on storytelling through movement. With Gower Champion she developed routines that were both technically demanding and audience-friendly, making the pair a regular attraction in musicals and variety programs of their era.
- Film and cinematic reference work
- Broadway and touring stage productions
- Television performances and choreography
Among her honors, she received recognition for choreography on television, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in 1975. Beyond awards, her reputation rests on a long record of collaborations, teaching, and the preservation of mid-century American musical dance idioms.
Champion's life extended well beyond her stage years; she contributed to dance education and periodically returned to public performances and special appearances. She is remembered for her partnership with Gower, a practical stagecraft that influenced later generations of musical theater practitioners, and for a remarkably long career that bridged the studio era and modern television choreography. Her longevity and continued engagement with dance made her a notable figure in American performing arts history.