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Overview
The story of how modern dance developed in America as told by one of its premier performers, teachers, and choreographers.
May O’Donnell (1906-2004) was one of the Martha Graham Contemporary Dance Company’s most successful soloists during its pioneer days. Because of her strong presence and equally strong technique, Graham entrusted O’Donnell to create her own roles in such notable Graham works as Appalachian Spring and Hériodiade. As a choreographer, O’Donnell was the first American to create dances of musical abstraction (before such a word was used in the world of dance), freeing the modern dancer from themes, storylines, and dramatic passion. She was also a sought-after teacher, and her famous students include Robert Joffrey, Ben Vereen, Gerald Arpino, Dudley Williams, and many others. Today, more than 50 of her documented works are performed and her technique is taught throughout Europe and the United States.
Based on extensive interviews with O’Donnell herself, Marian Horosko brings the story of this extraordinary yet unheralded 60-year career to light for the first time. O’Donnell’s personal memories—from her early training in California, to tours with José Limón, to the creation of her signature work, Suspension, to her collaborations with composer-husband Ray Green—and unpublished photographs from the artist’s personal archives provide a first-hand account of American modern dance coming into its own during the crucial period of the 1920s through the1980s. Horosko has also included the first available syllabus of O’Donnell’s technique as anintermediate class.
Synopsis
The story of how modern dance developed in America as told by one of its premier performers, teachers, and choreographers.
May O’Donnell (1906-2004) was one of the Martha Graham Contemporary Dance Company’s most successful soloists during its pioneer days. Because of her strong presence and equally strong technique, Graham entrusted O’Donnell to create her own roles in such notable Graham works as Appalachian Spring and Hériodiade. As a choreographer, O’Donnell was the first American to create dances of musical abstraction (before such a word was used in the world of dance), freeing the modern dancer from themes, storylines, and dramatic passion. She was also a sought-after teacher, and her famous students include Robert Joffrey, Ben Vereen, Gerald Arpino, Dudley Williams, and many others. Today, more than 50 of her documented works are performed and her technique is taught throughout Europe and the United States.
Based on extensive interviews with O’Donnell herself, Marian Horosko brings the story of this extraordinary yet unheralded 60-year career to light for the first time. O’Donnell’s personal memories—from her early training in California, to tours with José Limón, to the creation of her signature work, Suspension, to her collaborations with composer-husband Ray Green—and unpublished photographs from the artist’s personal archives provide a first-hand account of American modern dance coming into its own during the crucial period of the 1920s through the1980s. Horosko has also included the first available syllabus of O’Donnell’s technique as anintermediate class.
Library Journal
The International Dictionary of Modern Dance places May O'Donnell (1906-2004) in "the generation of modern dance pioneers in the tradition of Martha Graham." Incorporating interviews with O'Donnell herself, dancer Horosko (Martha Graham: The Evolution of Her Dance Theory and Training) has written the first full-length biography of this accomplished teacher, performer, and choreographer. From her early dance lessons in the 1920s to her success in the Martha Graham Contemporary Dance Company to her belated "discovery" in the 1980s, readers learn about O'Donnell's remarkable life. She not only originated several roles in Graham's works (e.g., Appalachian Spring; Herodiade) but as a teacher she also influenced such future luminaries as Gerald Arpino, Dudley Williams, Ben Vereen, and Robert Joffrey. In fact, more than 50 of her dance pieces are still being performed today. In addition to a list of those and other works, Horosko includes the syllabus to one of O'Donnell's intermediate classes. This slim volume, documenting a pivotal period in American modern dance, is recommended for dance and performing arts collections.-Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.