Karoun Tootikian; Dancer, Teacher

Karoun Tootikian, 91, a dancer, teacher and foundation leader for the Ruth St. Denis Dance Company. A native of Pennsylvania, Tootikian began studying dance as a child in Indiana and continued her studies with the Lester Horton Dance Company in Glendale after moving to Southern California. She spent much of her life furthering the work of St. Denis, dancing as a member of her company from 1945 to 1965, teaching at Miss Ruth’s Dance Studio and, beginning in 1948, working with the St. Denis Foundation. With St. Denis, she co-produced several works in California and sponsored Los Angeles appearances of several international dance artists. Tootikian worked for many years to preserve and share St. Denis’ choreography, which she had recorded in notebooks during their long association. She directed videotaping of many of the dances re-created in recent years, and provided information for historians and museums. On Monday in Los Angeles of complications following surgery.