Dorothy N. S. (Nina Sheridan) Russell was born March 23, 1924 in Paris, France, to American parents. Her father, Henry Tosti Russell, worked for United Press. She was the granddaughter of Boston Opera House Impresario Henry Russell and great-niece of Sir Ronald Russell, President of the Royal Guildhall School of Music, conductor at Albert Hall, and guest conductor of the London Symphony. Nina Russell received her education from the Lycee Francais de Londres (1932-1936), private tutors and at the University of Maryland.
Russell began her professional career as a newspaperwoman, as an assistant entertainment editor. In 1941-1943 she worked at the British weeklies covering musical events. From 1943-1945 Nina Russell was a radio scriptwriter and interviewer (U.S.Army). She was a United Press staff correspondent from 1945-1947 in London and Paris. In 1951 after working at different newspapers in Belgium, England and Italy she moved to United States where she worked at the New York Post, Oklahoman & Times, Constitution-Press and others.
In 1954, Russell left journalism and studied ballet, tap, jazz, performing in children's theaters as a dancer-actress-singer. She studied ballet under Vitale Fokin, son of Michael Fokin, began performing opera ballet with La Puma Opera Workshop, where she also worked as a choreographer. In 1958 Nina Russell began written for Show Business a trade newspaper, where she wrote "The Dance", a column of casting news, advise to newcomers, celebrity chats and advertisements. She created two special dance issues (1958-1959 and 1959-1960). She also contributed regularly as a writer to Dance Magazine and Dance Digest .
From the guide to the Nina Russell papers, 1947-1972, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)
