High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Valerie Bettis (December 20, 1919 September 26, 1982) was an American Modern dancer and choreographer. Born in Houston, Texas Bettis moved to New York City where she studied dance with Hanya Holm. She performed in Holms' company before creating her own dance troupe in 1944. She performed on and choreographed for Broadway, first appearing as "Tiger Lily" in the revue Inside U.S.A. in 1948; and then choreographed for motion pictures including the Rita Hayworth films Affair in Trinidad (1952), and Salome (1953). She died in New York City on September 26, 1982.