Marge Champion was born on September 2, 1919, in Los Angeles, California. At a young age, she studied dance under her father, Ernest Belcher, a well-known ballet instructor. When she was a teenager, she was hired by Walt Disney Studios as the live-action reference model for Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
Her graceful movements were used by animators to create Disney’s first princess. Champion went on to have a successful career as a dancer and actress, often performing with her husband, Gower Champion.
Together, they became one of Hollywood’s most famous dance duos, starring in film musicals and stage productions. Beyond performance, she contributed to choreography, shaping the look of mid-20th-century American musicals. Her influence extended from classic animation to Broadway and film.
Champion lived to the age of 101, passing away in 2020. Her career stands as a bridge between early Hollywood animation, golden-age musicals, and modern dance history.