Posted on: Tuesday, December 7, 2004

Artist Catherine Cassarno, 83

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Catherine "Ketty" Cassarno, once a ballerina in Paris, later a teacher in Oregon and then a co-creator of the "Make Music" festivals of the early 1990s in Honolulu, died Nov. 27. She was 83.

She was born Dec. 3, 1920.

Cassarno is survived by her husband of 60 years, George Cassarno of Honolulu. The couple together organized the "Make Music" festivals in Honolulu, a series of three-day events that ran for five years.

Her husband said she organized nearly 1,000 performers who participated in the festivals. He said the Honolulu Symphony dedicated the Nov. 28 concert to her memory.

Trained as a ballerina in Paris, she later became a choreographer and teacher. She lived 30 years in Portland, Ore., running her ballet studio and serving as a leader in the local arts scene there. Advanced students from her school and the community formed "Ballet du Lac," which performed at West Coast conferences.

George Cassarno said his wife believed in ballet discipline with an emphasis in immersion and understanding of all the art forms. But he also said she became a surrogate mother to many of her students over the years.

"Some of her students became professional dancers; a great many turned into lifelong friends," he said.

Her ashes will be scattered at sea during a private ceremony today.