Hostname: page-component-6d856f89d9-5pczc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T05:10:49.748Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mutual Inspiration: Choreographers and Composers at the Bennington School of the Dance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2013

Abstract

Visual artists, designers, composers, photographers, poets, and choreographers were vital participants in the Bennington School of the Dance, which ran on the Bennington College campus in Bennington, Vermont, from 1934–1942 with one year, 1939, spent at Mills College in California. Collaborations were an integral component of the school, occurring between faculty and staff members as well as between students and faculty/staff. Of particular importance were the collaborations between musicians (including Louis Horst, Gregory Tucker, Norman Lloyd, and Alex North) and choreographers (including Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman). These collaborations influenced the direction of American modern dance, which was establishing itself with new breath as a form that could express American life and traditions without necessarily drawing upon European composers to do so.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Elizabeth McPherson 2012 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Works Cited

David, Hermine Sauthoff. 1979. Reminiscences of Hermine Sauthoff Davidson, September 26, New York: Columbia University Oral History Collection (CUOHC) at Columbia University in New York City.Google Scholar
Eastham, Jane. 1979. Reminiscences of Jane Eastham, September 26. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Fine, Vivian. 1978. Reminiscences of Vivian Fine, December 10. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Green, Ray. 1979. Reminiscences of Ray Green, March 11. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Halprin, Anna. Narrative developed from interview of Anna Halprin by Elizabeth McPherson by telephone, June 23, 2009. Interview was transcribed and edited by Elizabeth McPherson and approved by Halprin.Google Scholar
Horst, Louis, Limón, José, Limón, Pauline, Lloyd, Norman, Lloyd, Ruth, and Schönberg, Bessie. 1959. Group Discussion on the Bennington School of the Dance. Transcript housed in the American Dance Festival Archives at Duke University.Google Scholar
Johnson, Hazel. 1979. Reminiscences of Hazel Johnson, July 30 and August 1. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Knight, Helen. 1979. Reminiscences of Helen Knight, September 19. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Lauer, Eleanor. 1979. Reminiscences of Eleanor Lauer, September 23. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Lloyd, Ruth, and Lloyd, Norman. Reminiscences of Ruth and Norman Lloyd, January 23. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Luening, Otto. 1979. Reminiscences of Otto Luening, January 23 and February 5 New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Nikolais, Alwin. 1979. Reminiscences of Alwin Nikolais, November 7. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Nowak, Lionel. 1978. Reminiscences of Lionel Nowak, December 10. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar
Stapp, Philip. 1979. Reminiscences of Philip Stapp, October 26. New York: CUOHC.Google Scholar