Laing, Hugh

Hugh Laing was born on June 6, 1911 in Barbados, British West Indies as Hugh Morris Alleyne Skinner. Laing moved to London in 1931, and enrolled in Marie Rambert's Ballet Club (later Ballet Rambert) in 1933. In 1938, Laing became a member of a short-lived troupe in the London Ballet, where he danced in his fellow dancer and choreographer Antony Tudor's Gala Performance and Judgment of Paris. The following year, upon the suggestion of fellow performer and director Agnes DeMille, Laing accompanied Tudor to New York City to dance for the first season of the Ballet Theater (later named The American Ballet Theatre), where they grew to be revered as two of the company's finest artists. Together with his wife Diana Adams, dance partner Nora Kaye, and Tudor, Laing left the Ballet Theater for a position at the New York City Ballet in 1951. He starred in the 1954 MGM film adaptation of Brigadoon and spent many years filling the leading roles in Tudor's ballets, including Pillar of Fire, Romeo and Juliet, and Jardin aux Lilas. He spent most of his later years as a professional photographer and set/costume designer for several of Tudor's final productions.

Antony Tudor was born as William Cook in London on April 4, 1909. He began formal training with Marie Rambert, the owner and head choreographer of the Ballet Club (now known as The Rambert Dance Company) in 1928, later meeting Hugh Laing in 1933. Upon moving to New York City in 1939 to dance in and help publicize the newly formed Ballet Theater, Tudor grew to be regarded as both a first-class choreographer and performer. After several years at the American Ballet Theatre, Tudor, along with dancers Nora Keyes, Laing, and Laing's wife Diana Adams, began performing for the New York City Ballet. Tudor was founder and choreographer of the London Ballet, 1937-1940, Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Ballet, 1952-1964, and Associate Director of the American Ballet Theatre. He was a principal force in the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festivals from the 1940s to 1953, where he eventually worked with the then-recently founded National Ballet of Canada. He served as teacher for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School and Juilliard School, and performed and directed several paramount ballets at the Ballet Theatre in New York from 1939-1950. Among his productions (many of which Laing played the leading role), several stand out as representative of his talent: Jardin aux Lilas (Ballet Rambert, 1936), Gala Performance (London Ballet, 1938), Pillar of Fire (Ballet Theatre, 1942) Dim Lustre (Ballet Theatre, 1943), and The Leaves are Fading (American Ballet Theatre, 1975).

Nora Kaye was born Nora Koreff in Brooklyn, NY in 1920. She was trained at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and, at age 9, was a regular performer in their children's productions. After several years in the Radio City Music Hall corps de ballet, she joined the Ballet Theatre in 1939. The leading role in Antony Tudor's 1946 production of Pillar of Fire gained her the respect she deserved as a true prima ballerina. This role, along with others in Tudor's Gala Performance, Romeo and Juliet, and Jardin Aux Lilas, as well as in DeMille's Fall River Legend, earned her the title "Duse of the Dance." After a short marriage to Isaac Stern, Kaye wed Herbert Ross, film director and former choreographer for the American Ballet Theatre, and assisted in writing and producing many of his later films and Broadway musicals.

From the guide to the Hugh Laing and Antony Tudor papers, 1911-1988, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Hugh Laing (Hugh Morris Alleyne Skinner) was born on June 6, 1911, in Barbados, British West Indies. He was of English and Irish background, the son of Donald M. and Beatrice A. Skinner.

Laing went to London in 1931 to study art, and there began taking ballet classes. He became associated with Marie Rambert's Ballet Club (later Ballet Rambert) in 1933, where he met Antony Tudor. He accompanied Tudor to New York City in 1939 and danced with Ballet Theatre in its first season, January 1940. He continued to dance with Ballet Theatre for most of his performing career, with the exception of 1950-1952, when he was a member of New York City Ballet.

Laing danced on Broadway in the 1945 Lerner and Loewe musical comedy, The Day Before Spring, which was choreographed by Antony Tudor. He performed the role of Harry Beaton in the 1954 MGM film of the Lerner and Loewe musical Brigadoon.

Laing married dancer Diana Adams in 1947; they were divorced in 1953.

Laing was a dramatic dancer, known for his good looks and the intensity of his stage presence. He created leading roles in many of Tudor's ballets, including Dark Elegies, Jardin aux Lilas, Pillar of Fire, Romeo and Juliet and Undertow. He later helped restage Tudor ballets for American Ballet Theatre, and designed the scenery and costumes for some productions of Tudor's works. Laing was Antony Tudor's friend and artistic collaborator until Tudor's death in 1987.

Hugh Laing died of cancer in New York City on May 10, 1988.

From the guide to the Hugh Laing papers, circa 1943-1988, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)