- See also: Category:Ballets by Agnes de Mille
| Agnes George de Mille | |
| Born | September 18, 1905 Harlem |
|---|---|
| Died | October 7, 1993 (aged 88) Greenwich Village |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Occupation | Choreographer |
| Relatives | Cecil B. DeMille, her uncle William C. DeMille, her father Henry George, her grandfather |
Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 – October 7, 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Greenwich Village (ˌgrɛnɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ often simply called the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern Manhattan A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" Cecil Blount DeMille ( August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was an Academy Award -winning American Film director Willam C deMille ( July 25 1878 &ndash March 8 1955) was an American Screenwriter and Film director from the Henry George ( September 2, 1839 &ndash October 29, 1897) was an American Political economist and the most influential proponent of Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" [1] She was born in Harlem into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center Her father William C. DeMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were Hollywood directors. Willam C deMille ( July 25 1878 &ndash March 8 1955) was an American Screenwriter and Film director from the Cecil Blount DeMille ( August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was an Academy Award -winning American Film director She was also the granddaughter of economist Henry George. Henry George ( September 2, 1839 &ndash October 29, 1897) was an American Political economist and the most influential proponent of
Contents |
Biography
Agnes had originally wanted to be an actress and had always had a love for acting, but had been told that she was 'not pretty enough', so she turned her attention to dance. As a child, she had longed to dance, but dance at this time was considered more of an activity, rather than a viable career option, and so her parents refused to allow her to dance. When Agnes’s younger sister was prescribed ballet classes to cure her flat feet, Agnes joined her. De Mille lacked flexibility and technique, though, and did not have a dancer's body. Classical ballet was the most widely known dance form at this time, and Agnes apparent lack of ability limited her opportunities. She taught herself from watching movie stars on the set with her father in Hollywood; these were more interesting for her to watch than perfectly turned out legs, and she developed strong character work and compelling performances. One of Agnes’ earliest jobs, thanks to her father’s connections, was choreographing the movie Cleopatra in 1934, though the dances were later cut from the movie. She appeared in The Ragamuffin in 1916, which was her first job.
De Mille graduated from UCLA where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and in 1933 moved to London to study at Marie Rambert's Ballet Club. Kappa Alpha Theta ( ΚΑΘ) is an international women's fraternity founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University. Dame Marie Rambert ( 20 February 1888 &ndash 12 June 1982) was a Polish-Jewish dancer and dance pedagogue who exerted a great influence
De Mille began her association with the fledgling American Ballet Theatre (then called Ballet Theatre) in 1939, but her first significant work, Rodeo (1942) was staged for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. See also American Ballet Theatre, based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Rodeo ('rodiːˌo is a Ballet score written by American Composer Aaron Copland in 1942. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Ballets Russes, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was an influential Ballet company founded by René Blum and Colonel Vassily Although de Mille continued to choreograph nearly up to the time of her death--her final ballet, The Informer, was completed in 1992--most of her later works have dropped out of the ballet repertoire. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Besides Rodeo, two other de Mille ballets are performed on a regular basis: Three Virgins and a Devil (1934), adapted from a tale by Giovanni Boccaccio, and Fall River Legend (1948), based on the life of Lizzie Borden. Rodeo (ˈroʊdioʊ or /roʊˈdeɪoʊ/ is a sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fall River Legend is a Ballet based on the life of Lizzie Borden. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
In 1943 she married Walter Prude. [1]
On the strength of Rodeo, de Mille was hired to choreograph Oklahoma! (1943). Rodeo (ˈroʊdioʊ or /roʊˈdeɪoʊ/ is a sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The dream ballet, in which dancers (Marc Platt, Katherine Sergava, and George Church) doubled for the leading actors, successfully integrated dance into the musical's plot. Marc Platt (born December 2 1913 in Pasadena, California, United States) is an American ballet dancer and Musical Instead of functioning as an interlude or divertissement, the ballet provided key insights into the heroine's emotional troubles. De Mille went on to choreograph over a dozen other musicals, most notably Bloomer Girl (1944), Carousel (1945), Brigadoon (1947), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949), Paint Your Wagon (1951), Goldilocks (1957), and 110 in the Shade (1963). Bloomer Girl was a Broadway musical that premiered on October 4, 1944. Carousel is a musical by Richard Rodgers (music and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics that was adapted from Ferenc Molnar Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a musical with a book by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos, lyrics by Leo Robin, and music by Jule Styne Paint Your Wagon is a 1951 Broadway musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Alan J Goldilocks is a musical with a book by Jean and Walter Kerr, music by Leroy Anderson, and lyrics by the Kerrs and Joan Ford
De Mille's success on Broadway did not translate into success in Hollywood. Her only significant film credit is Oklahoma! (1955). The 1943 musical play Oklahoma!, written by Composer Richard Rodgers and Lyricist / Librettist Oscar Hammerstein II Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) She was not invited to recreate her choreography for either Brigadoon or Carousel. Nevertheless, her two specials for the TV series Omnibus, "The Art of Ballet" and "The Art of Choreography" (both televised in 1956), were immediately recognized as landmark attempts to bring serious dance to the attention of a broad public. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Her love for acting played a very important role in her choreography. De Mille revolutionized musical theatre by creating choreography which not only conveyed the emotional dimensions of the characters but also enhanced the plot. Her choreography, as a reflection of her awareness of acting, reflected the angst and turmoil of the characters instead of simply focusing on a dancer's physical technique.
De Mille regularly worked with a recognizable core group of dancers, including Virginia Bosler, Gemze de Lappe, Lidija Franklin, Jean Houloose, Dania Krupska, Bambi Linn, Joan McCracken, James Mitchell, Mavis Ray, and, at American Ballet Theatre, Sallie Wilson. Gemze de Lappe (born February 28, 1925, in Portsmouth Virginia) is an American Dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille Lidija Franklin (b May 17, 1917) is a Dancer and teacher of Latvian descent originally from the Moscow area Dania Krupska ( b August 13, 1923 in Fall River, Massachusetts) is a Tony Award -nominated Dancer and Choreographer Bambi Linn (born Bambina Linnemeier on April 26, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American Dancer, choreographer and Joan McCracken ( December 31, 1917 – November 1, 1961) was an American dancer actress and comedian who became famous for her role as Silvie James Mitchell (born February 29, 1920 in Sacramento California) is an American dancer and actor Sallie Wilson (1932-2008 was a noted ballerina who appeared mostly with American Ballet Theatre. Krupska, Mitchell, and Ray also served as de Mille's assistant choreographers, while de Lappe has taken an active role in preserving de Mille's work.
In 1953, de Mille founded the Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre, which she later revived as Heritage Dance Theatre. The Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre toured the United States from 1953 to 1954 under the aegis of producer Sol Hurok.
De Mille suffered a stroke on stage in 1975, but recovered. She died in 1993 of second stroke in her Greenwich Village apartment. Greenwich Village (ˌgrɛnɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ often simply called the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern Manhattan [1]
Legacy
Agnes de Mille's many awards include a Tony Award, the Handel Medallion for achievement in the arts (1976), and an honor from the Kennedy Center (1980). The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar)
Agnes de Mille was a lifelong friend of modern dance legend Martha Graham. See also Dance, Concert dance Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century See also Martha Graham ( May 11, 1894 &ndash April 1, 1991) was an American Dancer and Choreographer The publisher of many books about dance, de Mille, in 1992, published Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham (ISBN 0-679-74176-3), a 509-page biography of Graham. Agnes de Mille had been working on the Graham manuscript for over 30 years.
At present, the only commercially available examples of de Mille's choreography are Fall River Legend (filmed in 1989 by the Dance Theatre of Harlem) and Oklahoma!
References
- ^ a b c "Agnes de Mille, 88, Dance Visionary, Is Dead.", New York Times, October 8, 1993. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Dance Theatre of Harlem is a Ballet company and school of the allied arts founded in Harlem, New York City, USA in 1969 by Arthur Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Retrieved on 2007-08-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. "Agnes de Mille, who helped change American dance with her ballet "Rodeo" in 1942 and musical comedy with her choreography for "Oklahoma!" a year later, died yesterday in her Greenwich Village apartment. Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Greenwich Village (ˌgrɛnɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ often simply called the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern Manhattan She was 88. The cause was a stroke, said Dr. Fred Plum, the head of neurology at New York Hospital and a close friend. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is a prominent University hospital in New York City, composed of two medical centers Columbia University Medical Center . . . Miss de Mille was married to Walter Prude, a concert-artists' manager, from 1943 until his death in 1988. She is survived by a son, Jonathan, and two grandsons, David Robert and Michael James, all of Atlanta, and a niece, Judith de Mille Donelan of Easton, Maryland"
Further reading
- Easton, Carol (2000). Easton is a town in Talbot County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11708 at the 2000 census No Intermissions: The Life of Agnes de Mille. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80975-3.
- de Mille, Agnes (1973). Speak to Me, Dance with Me. Brown Little. ISBN 0-316-18038-6.
External links
- Agnes de Mille Dances
- Biographical sketch and list of works for American Ballet Theatre
- Biographical sketch at Kennedy Center
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