Dorathi Pierre; Dance Writer and Historian

Dorathi Bock Pierre, a principal dancer with the Michel Fokine Ballet who became a dance writer and historian, has died. She was 96.

Pierre died Jan. 2 at her home in Encino of cardiac arrest while she was recuperating from a stroke suffered three months ago.

Born in Chicago, Pierre was the daughter of a sculptor and grew up surrounded by art and artists.

She began dancing with Fokine when she was 16 and went on to study acting and perform in several stage productions.

She moved to Los Angeles after marrying Jacques J. Pierre, a theatrical producer and manager.

She became the West Coast representative for the American Dancer, Viewpoints and Dance magazines. From 1938 to 1942, she created, edited and published the Journal of Educational Dance.

Pierre’s vast collection of written materials on dance was given to the Beverly Hills Library in 1974.

She served as publicist for the Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre Assn., the Huntington Hartford theaters, the Southern California Symphony Hollywood Bowl Assn., the Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Festival and the Los Angeles Ballet.

She also handled publicity for tours of such internationally known companies as Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, American Ballet Theatre, Britain’s Old Vic and France’s Comedie Francaise.