LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cyd Charisse: Nico Charisse
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Cyd Charisse grew up in Amarillo, Texas and spent her early childhood taking ballet lessons. She joined the Ballet Russe at age 13 touring with the company in the U.S. and Europe, using the stage names of Maria Istomina and Felia Sidorova. In 1939 she married Nico Charisse, a former dance teacher.
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Charisse was born in Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, TX, and took to dancing at an early age, encouraged by her father, who loved the ballet. By age 14, she was dancing with the Ballet Russe under the more glamorous (and European-sounding) name Felia Sidorova -- the Sidorova came from her childhood nickname "Sid," which she carried into adulthood. She later studied dance in Los Angeles with Nico Charisse, who became her first husband. Charisse appeared both solo and with her first husband (working as "Nico and Charisse") in several early '40s "soundies" and played small roles in Mission to Moscow and Something to Shout About (both 1943), working under the name Lily Norwood. In 1945 Charisse was signed to MGM; Lily Norwood disappeared and Sid became Cyd, while the Charisse -- the one major legacy of the failed marriage -- remained.
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Charisse has been married to singer Tony Martin since 1948, almost 60 years, something of an achievement for a Hollywood marriage. She was previously married to Nico Charisse from 1939 to 1947. She has two sons, Nico "Nicky" Charisse from her first marriage and Tony Martin Jr. from her second. Her niece is actress Nana Visitor. Her daughter-in-law is Liv Lindeland, who was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in January 1971 and featured as Playmate of the Year for 1971 in the January 1972 issue.
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--Cyd studied ballet as a child and later joined the Ballet Russe in 1934 as Felia Sidorova. Cyd was ... known as Maria Istomina, Felia Sidorva and Lily Norwood in many ballet theater programs. After her fathers death, Cyd moved to Los Angeles where she met Nico. Cyd married Nico Charisse who was also her ex-dance teacher and earlier dance partner. Cyd was said to have the best legs in show business and sometimes billed as "the most celebrated set of legs in Hollywood history".
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Sid returned to the ballet under the tutelege of instructor Nico Charisse, a charming 32-year-old Frenchman. While the Ballet Russe was touring England, Charisse arrived unannounced in London and proclaimed his love for the fatherless 16-year-old. When he asked her to accompany him to Paris for a romantic getaway, Sid declined because it would appear unsavory. His solution was to propose marriage. She accepted and they were wed in the City of Lights. Upon returning to L.A.
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