Jose Limon

"American dance is not merely a style or idiom. It is a potent idea. When it's contemporary personalities retire, the idea will persist."
-Jose Limon

I just finished researching Jose Limon. He lived from 1908 to 1972. He was born in Mexico and emigrated to New York City in 1928, after seeing a dance performance and deciding to dedicate his life to dance. He trained with Humphrey and Weidman for ten years, and formed his own company in 1946. He (surprisingly) asked Doris Humphrey to act as the Artistic Director of his company, and she accepted. His technique is shaped by the drop and rebound idea, and his dances featured weightiness and powerful attack. He was a very "active" choreographer, and choreographed at least one new piece each year. He also spent every summer at the American Dance Festival.





Reflection


Jose is the first dancer/choreographer that I've studied that is from another country, but is still considered to be an American dancer/choreographer. Does everyone consider him an American? Is he a citizen?





Photo Credit: http://www.danceheritage.org/images/limon.jpg

Merce Cunningham

Merce is an interesting person. He received his training in Seattle and then went on to dance with the Martha Graham Company. He founded his own company in 1953. He has done pioneering work in the feilds of video and film. His technique is organic and almost balletic.

Reflection
I want to see one of his performances. He must've received very good training in Seattle to go straight from Seattle to the Martha Graham Company

Doris Humphrey

Doris Humphrey joined the Denishawn Company, where she danced with people like Martha Graham and Charles Weidman. She ended up making a company, studio and school with Charles Weidman. She then developed her technique which included the prominent idea of fall and recovery.

Reflection

After researching Doris, I realize how interesting her life was. I wonder why she became the Artistic Director of the Jose Limon Ensemble... did she have any previous ties to Jose?

Photo Credit: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/78/10878-004-1AF05DF9.jpg