from the "Providence (RI) Journal" - she sounds like she had a fascinating
life.... CARR was her stage name.
Ann A. Carr, 67; vaudevillian, dance teacher, humanitarian
05/26/2003
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -- Ann A. Carr, 67, of Coggeshell Street, an
acrobat, vaudeville performer, teacher, and humanitarian, died yesterday at
Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center after an illness.
Born in Providence, a daughter of Corina (Atelia) Carcieri of Providence,
and the late Albert P. Carcieri, she was a lifelong resident of the city.
She began her career as an acrobat and vaudeville performer as a young
girl. By age 11, she was the youngest professional to join the American
Guild of Variety Artists. She performed professionally all over the world,
including Europe, the Caribbean, South America and on cruise ships.
She was a frequent performer in Atlantic City with celebrities such as
Danny Thomas, Jerry Vale, Jose Greco and Liberace. She performed with USO
tours in the 1950s and 1960s.
She began as a contortionist, and then turned to tap dancing, ballet,
Spanish and modern jazz, as well as aerial work on ropes, acrobatics,
dramatics, and voice and piano. She had an uncle in show business and other
relatives who worked for Barnum & Bailey.
At one point early in her career, she had eight agents and was commuting
frequently to New York for more classes and shows. By then, she had taken
Carr as her stage name, and kept her real name of Carcieri for her driver's
license and other legal matters.
When she was 15, she began teaching dance. Her first dance studio was in
Pawtucket, and she moved to Lonsdale Avenue in Lincoln in 1977. She
instructed thousands of students in the Rhode Island area for more than 50
years. Her students have won innumerable awards in national competitions,
and several have gone on to careers on Broadway, in Las Vegas revues, on
television and theater, and commercials.
Her dance troupe, The Rising Stars, has entertained locally in nursing
homes, retirement villages and hospital settings for decades. She also was
the dance coordinator for the Rhode Island Music and Dance Camp for more
than 20 years.
She was a humanitarian, having put on benefit shows in lieu of traditional
recitals for countless recipients. Some of her causes have included cancer
patients, fire victims, scholarship funds, and other local charities.
She received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Dance Teacher
by Talent America in 2002.
She was a longstanding member of the Rosicrucian Order.
Besides her mother, she leaves an aunt, Marie Nehmy of North Kingstown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St.
Ann Church, Hawkins Street, Providence.