Rallou Manou (Greek: Ραλλού Μάνου; 1915-1988) was a noted Greek choreographer, modern dancer and dance teacher.

Early life and ancestry

She was daughter of Colonel Petros Manos, aide-de-camp of King Constantine I of Greece and his second wife Sofia Tombazis (daughter of Alexandros Tombazis and Princess Maria Mavrocordato). She was half-sister of Aspasia Manos, aunt of Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia and great-aunt of Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia. Through her other half-sister Roxanne, she was sister in law of an athlete and industrialist Christos Zalokostas.

Later life

She contributed to the development of postwar Greek dance. In 1951, she founded the Hellenic Choreodrama, a group that presented dance-dramas based on Ancient Greek literature. Her works were often performed at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus of Athens. She collaborated with the Greek composers Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, George Sicilianos and Giorgos Tsangaris. She also collaborated with the Egyptian-born composer Halim El-Dabh, who composed the music for her dance-drama Doxastiko (1965). The sets and costumes of her choreographies were designed by noted Greek artists such a Yiannis Tsarouchis, Nikos Engonopoulos, Nikos Nikolaou, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas and Spyros Vassiliou.

Personal life

She was married to the prominent Greek architect Pavlos Mylonas.

Death

She died on 15 October 1988. Her husband Pavlos outlived her for 17 years.