Mary Ann (Wells) King (1894-1971) was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and moved to Seattle in 1915. Ms. Wells was a charter member of the Soroptimist Club and in 1916 founded the ballet department at the Cornish School (now Cornish College of the Arts). From 1923 until her retirement in 1958 Ms. Wells ran her own studio, the Mary Ann Wells School of the Dance, opening at Sixth Avenue and Union Street, and later at 804 1/2 Pine Street. Many of her students went on to become professional dancers, such as Robert Joffrey (1930-1988), founder of the Joffrey Ballet. Pictured here is a card announcing the opening of The Mary Ann Wells School of the Dance at Sixth Avenue and Union Street.

Caption information source: "Mary Ann Wells, dance teacher, dies," The Seattle Times, January 10, 1971, page 72

• Subjects (LCTGM): Advertisements; Dance--Washington (State)--Seattle; Private schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
• People: Wells, Mary Ann, -1971