Williams, Lavinia, 1916-1989
Name Entries
person
Williams, Lavinia, 1916-1989
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Date :
1916-1989
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Yarborough, Lavinia Williams, 1916-1989
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Yarborough
Forename :
Lavinia Williams
Date :
1916-1989
eng
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Williams, Grace Lavinia Poole, 1916-1989
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Williams
Forename :
Grace Lavinia Poole
Date :
1916-1989
eng
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Genders
Female
Exist Dates
Biographical History
Lavinia Williams (1916-1989) was an African-American dancer, choreographer and teacher, who played an influential role in the development of modern and folkloric dances in Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana and the Bahamas.
Williams was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later resided in Brooklyn, New York and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She danced with Katherine Dunham's company, as well as appeared in various Broadway musicals, such as Cabin in the Sky (1940) and a revival of Showboat (1946). In 1953, Williams was invited by the Haitian government to establish a dance school in Haiti. She accepted the invitation, and founded the Haitian Institute of Classic and Folklore Dance of which she was the director.
Williams also founded the Ballets d'Haiti dance company. She would later divide her time between Haiti and the United States. During the latter years of her life (in the 1980s), she taught at New York University and the Alvin Ailey Dance School. Like many African-American dancers of her generation, Williams had begun to receive recognition from the younger generation of dancers, scholars, and the general public. The dance tradition continued through Sara Yarborough, Williams' daughter, who was a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/239758869
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n81090393
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n81090393
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6502746
Other Entity IDs (Same As)
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Resource Relations
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Internal CPF Relations
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
fre
Latn
Subjects
African American dancers
Ballet dancers
Dance
Dance companies
Dance teachers
Folk dancing
Folk dancing, Haitian
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Dancer
Dance teachers
Legal Statuses
Places
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
00, BS
AssociatedPlace
Work
Republic of Haiti
00, HT
AssociatedPlace
Work
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
00, TT
AssociatedPlace
Work
Brooklyn
NY, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
New York City
NY, US
AssociatedPlace
Work
Portsmouth
VA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Philadelphia
PA, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
00, GY
AssociatedPlace
Work
Jamaica
00, JM
AssociatedPlace
Work
Port-au-Prince
11, HT
AssociatedPlace
Death
Antigua
53, ES
AssociatedPlace
Work
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>