Vernon Castle

Biography

Vernon Castle, born in 1887, transformed ballroom dancing in America with his wife Irene, making the art of social dancing accessible and elegant to a wide audience. Their infectious joy, stylish performances, and popular instruction books helped usher in a dance craze that defined an era of spirited celebration.

During the First World War, Castle served his country with the same discipline he brought to the dance floor, and his early death in 1918 only deepened admiration for a life lived with grace. His grave in Woodlawn Cemetery marks the resting place of a dancer who brought rhythm and refinement to the modern stage.