caption birth_place name birth_date alt image article_title birth_name occupation
king , 1969 . with dance partner bobby burgess and lawrence welk trinidad , colorado cissy king 03 january 1946 king , burgess , welk 1969 cissy king bobby burgess welk show 1969.jpg cissy king
 claire yvonne king singer dancer
cissy king

claire yvonne `` cissy '' king -lrb- born january 3 , 1946 -rrb- is an american-born singer and dancer best known as a featured performer on `` the lawrence welk show '' television program .
king was born in trinidad , colorado .
her father was a geologist employed by an oil company .
the family relocated to albuquerque , new mexico when cissy was three .
an accomplished dancer since she was a toddler , cissy , along with her brother john , won first place at the national ballroom dancing championships in san francisco , california when she was fourteen .
they captured first place two more times and were also named u.s ballroom couple of the year .
later , when attending the university of new mexico , she majored in recreation and physical education and was a cheerleader , gymnast , and was on the synchronized swim team .
she continued to dance , in various ballroom competitions and on stage such as the six flags over texas campus revue .
in 1967 , cissy became bobby burgess ' dance partner on the lawrence welk show when his first partner , barbara boylan left to get married .
for the next dozen years , she became one of the most popular performers on the show with her vivacious personality , singing talents and her natural dance moves .
in 1974 , she was honored with the dance masters of america award for outstanding contributions to the field of dance .
after leaving the show in late 1978 , she continued to perform , dancing for several years with her own solo act `` two fellows '' ; and acting in the broadway touring production of `` always patsy '' .
today , king lives in albuquerque , where she continues to dance , and is active in creating new shows in major venues across her home state .
