Zina Bethune's Page

An accomplished performer of international stature, Zina Bethune has displayed an amazing wealth of versatility as a dancer, actress, choreographer and singer in film, television and in worldwide stage appearances.

Beginning her ballet training at age six with George Balanchine's prestigious School of American Ballet, Zina has performed as a member of the New York City Ballet and around the world as a guest Prima Ballerina with such companies as The Royal Danish Ballet, Nevada Dance Theatre, San Francisco Ballet Theatre and Stars of America Ballet the western tour. Her critically acclaimed performances have included "Swan Lake," "Le Corsair," "Romeo & Juliet," "Black Swan," "Giselle," "Don Quixote," "Sleeping Beauty," and Balanchine's "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux." Based in New York, in 1969 she created her first dance company, Zina Bethune and Company. In 1980 Zina formed her present company in Los Angeles, Bethune Theatredanse.

Known for her four years as the star of CBS' primetime "Nurses," her role as Barbara Sterling Latimar on CBS' "Love of Life," and as Robin in "The Guiding Light," Zina has been featured opposite Lee Remick in NBC’s acclaimed mini-series, "Nutcracker: Money, Madness, Murder," appeared apposite James Woods and Sean Young in "The Boost," and recently guest starred in "Party of Five." On Broadway, she appeared in "The Most Happy Fella" and "The Nutcracker." Zina has toured with national companies in the lead roles of: Carousel, Sweet Charity, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Damn Yankees, Oklahoma, Member of the Wedding, and Barefoot in the Park, among others. She has guest starred in innumerable series, starred in Martin Scorsese's film, "Who’s knocking at My Door," as Anne Roosevelt in "Sunrise at Campobello," and recently completed a year on Broadway in the Greta Garbo role in Tommy Tune's "Grand Hotel."

Zina Bethune has directed and choreographed over 50 plays, films, videos and ballets. Her multifaceted background as an actress, dancer, director and choreographer has broadened her ideas of performance to include multi- edia as an art form. She is currently Artistic Director for Bethune Theatredanse and Infinite Dreams, the Bethune Theatredanse's program for disabled children to learn and perform dance.

Zina has been a pioneer in the Cyber-Art movement, creating her first mixed media piece in 1969 for her ballet company in New York, Zina Bethune and Company.

What distinguishes Zina as extraordinary among her peers is the scope of her acting and dance career against the most adverse of physical disabilities. Having overcome numerous experimental surgeries on dysplastic hips, and coping with scoliosis and lymphedema, Zina continues to pursue an active artistic career.

Zina Bethune is also a pioneer in the area of dance for mentally and physically challenged children. She began her work with special populations when the "political correctness" of such endeavors had not yet evolved. Calling on her own experience, Zina formalized her Infinite Dreams program in 1983, fulfilling a lifelong interest in working and creating with disabled children. Infinite Dreams is ongoing and the classes are year-round. Performances are in the spring and are held at the Los Angeles Music center, Orange County Main Place and Orange County Convention Center. The program currently involves over 1000 disabled children. Zina continues to direct Bethune Theatredanse productions, in addition to overseeing and teaching the Infinite Dreams program.

A special invitation by the Chinese Government brought Zina to Mainland China in 1988 to introduce the disabled children of China to Infinite Dreams. This trip was the subject of the documentary "Infinite Dreams in China - A Portrait of Zina Bethune," which premiered at the American Film Institute.

Her work with Bethune Theatredanse and Infinite Dreams is the subject of a half-hour PBS special "Heart Dancing" which aired in April and July of 1988, and is now being distributed internationally. "Heart Dancing"and Zina were the recipients of the 1989 Media Access Award for excellence.

June of 1989 brought Zina and Infinite Dreams wheelchair dancer Sarah Anderson, an invitation to dance at the White House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., which was subsequently televised on the NBC special "From the Heart."

For her continuing efforts she has been commended by the White House: Presidents Clinton, Reagan and Bush and cited by Los Angeles Mayors Richard J. Riordan, Tom Bradley and Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Receiving the prestigious Community Service Award from the Pasadena Mayor's Committee for Employment of the Disabled, she has also been presented with the CeCe Robinson Award by the California Governor's Committee for Employment of the Disabled in recognition for her "Encouragement, compassion, determination and understanding in the performing arts."

On October 11, 2008, Zina was honored with the 2008 Artists For A Better World International SPIRIT OF YOUTH AWARD, "For dedicated service inspiring our youth towards the creation of a better world through aesthetics" at Celebrity Centre International, in Hollywood, CA, as part of the AFABW Awards Event & Concert. The award was presented by AFABW Ambassador Debbie Shapiro.