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How did Broadway legend Ann Reinking die? Internet bids farewell to the 'amazing dancer' after her death at 71

Ann Reinking, actor, dancer and choreographer, took her last breath at the age of 71, on Saturday, December 12 in Washington

Broadway legend and Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, who was a known actor, dancer and choreographer, took her last breath at the age of 71, on Saturday, December 12 in Washington, her sister-in-law Dahrla King told Variety. The cause of her death is not disclosed.

“The world and our family have lost a vibrant, amazing talent and beautiful soul. Ann was the heart of our family and the life of the party,” her family said in a statement on Monday, December 14. “She was visiting our brother in Washington state when she went to sleep and never woke up. We will miss her more than we can say. Heaven has the best choreographer available now. I’m sure they are dancing up a storm up there! Annie, we will love and miss you always!!!”

On December 14, dancer and choreographer Christopher Dean, who is Reinking's niece's teacher first confirmed the news on Facebook. “The lights on Broadway are forever more dim this morning and there is one less star in the sky. The good news is that heaven has the very best choreographer on earth now. Thank you Ann for having the most profound impact on my career. We are even more blessed by the entire Reinking family who have welcomed us in and been a huge part of our lives this past year. The world will miss Ann so much!! The angels are all singing “We got Annie!!” he wrote.

Born on November 10, 1949, in Seattle, Washington, Reinking was known for her extensive work in musical theater. She moved to New York City when she was just 18 and danced as a corps de ballet dancer at the Radio City Music Hall. At 19, she made her Broadway debut with the musical 'Cabaret'. She starred in Broadway productions of 'Coco' (1969), 'Over Here!' (1974), 'Goodtime Charley' (1975), 'Chicago' (1977), 'Dancin'' (1978) and 'Sweet Charity' (1986). In the 1996 revival of 'Chicago', she reprised the role of Roxie Hart and also choreographed the play, for which she bagged the Tony Award for the Best Choreography. For the 2000 West End production of 'Fosse', she won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. She later appeared in films like, 'All That Jazz' (1979), 'Annie' (1982), and 'Micki & Maude' (1984).

“The hope is that in rediscovering ‘Chicago,’ audiences will rediscover what theater was,” Reinking told The New York Times at the time of the show’s revival. “It was sophisticated, complicated, adult.”

As soon as the news of her demise made its way to social media, people started talking about it, as one Internet user said, "Mourning the passing of Ann Reinking. Unique and amazing dancer, and Fosse interpreter and curator of his choreography." While another fan remembered her saying, "RIP to the beautiful, radiant, and talented Ann Reinking. Not only a spectacular dancer and stage actress, but someone I remember fondly from the 1982 version of Annie."

Another one mourned the loss saying, "For Broadway, 2020 has been its darkest hour. Another shining light has been sadly extinguished. Ann Reinking Rest In Peace you will be missed!" Sharing a gif, where Reinking can be seen performing on stage, another one wrote, "In celebration of the wonderful life of Ann Reinking, we’re going to watch All That Jazz tonight for #SHOnukkah."

One fan said, "I am heartbroken - she was a giant of the stage & a delightful human being to meet." While another one wrote, "My heart is broken. She was so beautiful and so talented. When I saw Annie (1982) when I was little, it was her performance that made me fall in love with theater.  #RIP"

Writer and producer, Lauren Milberger remembered the star and said, "Ann Reinking is the 1st reason I wanted to be in showbiz. I was lucky to see her last performance of Chicago, which she co-starred/choreographed when it got to the big ”I Can’t Do It Alone,” Bebe Neuwirth finished the big dance routine then turned to Ann & said, ”now you.” She continued, "And she did. It was miraculous. I was lucky to see her one more time on bway. Her interpretation of Fosse was memorizing. #RIPAnnReinking."