Pauline Lawrence | |
|---|---|
 Portrait, ca. 1925, from The Denishawn Magazine | |
| Born | 1900 |
| Died | (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Hollywood High School |
| Known for | Costume design |
| Style | Modern dance |
Pauline Lawrence (1900 – July 16, 1971) was an American modern dancer, choreographer, and costume designer. Born in Los Angeles, Lawrence joined the Denishawn school in 19??, broke away from it in 1928 to form the Humphrey-Weidman company, and
Early life
editBorn 1900 in Los Angeles
Went to Hollywood High School.
Was in high school when she was invited to play piano in San Diego for Ted Shawn, who was stationed at some military base at Kearny Mesa. Joined Denishawn soon thereafter, and became company manager, publicity agent, and costume designer. A comparison to Louis Horst is due here.
Early career
edit"Five years before, Martha Graham had left; two years later, Louis; and now Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman were beginning to feel the need of farther fields, Their little group was in reality a triumvirate which included Pauline Lawrence, that devoted comrade of their careers who was Doris’ Pearl as well as her Louis, and who later took on the dignity of managership. And I think in these days Pauline felt very strongly that the only way Doris and Charles could expand was by separation from the forms of Denishawn."[2]
Left the Denishawn company in 1928, with Humphrey and Weidman. Was a founding member of the Humphrey-Weidman company.[3]: 32
According to Limon, was the entire business operation of the Humphrey-Weidman company.[4]: 25
"Pauline functioned as company manager and representative, business manager, press agent, stage manager, and lighting director. When the curtain went up, on her cue, she would double as one of two pairs of hands at the piano, give the electricians at the switchboard their cues as needed, jump to the percussion instruments when these were indicated in the musical score, and return to the piano. Intermissions menat supervising and directing changes of scenery, refocusing spotlights, and changing colored slides. After the final curtain she would supervise the crew in packing the curtains, lights, props, and costumes, accompany the loaded trucks to the railroad station, check the baggage to the next destination, tidy up a bit, and join the company at whatever reception was being held by the local sponsors.
"All of us, being completely absorbed in the task of performing, keeping ourselves fit, and fighting the ever-present fatigue and exhaustion of a protracted tour, took Pauline and her services very much for granted."[4]: 84
Collaboration with José Limón
editPersonal life
editMight have been in a relationship with Doris Humphrey in the early 30s[3]: 47 Lived in a kind of collective with a bunch of her artistic associates, incl. Humphrey, Weidman, Limon, in the late 30s.
Later works
editLegacy
editSelected works
editReferences
edit- ^ Shawcross, Nancy M. "Guide to the Pauline Lawrence Limón collection" (PDF). New York Public Library Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Denis, Ruth St. (1939). Ruth St. Denis, An Unfinished Life: An Autobiography. London: George G. Harrap & Co.
- ^ a b Foulkes, Julia L. (2002). Modern bodies: dance and American modernism from Martha Graham to Alvin Ailey. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-2698-0.
- ^ a b Limón, José (1998). José Limón : an unfinished memoir. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. ISBN 978-0-8195-6374-3.