Lawrence, Pauline

Pauline Lawrence Limón (1900-1971) was born in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduation from Hollywood High School in 1917, she joined the Denishawn Company as pianist and also danced minor roles for the Company. She was pianist for Martha Graham and joined the Humphrey-Weidman Company when its leaders broke away from Denishawn. With the Humphrey-Weidman Company Pauline served as pianist, conductor of the orchestra, business manager, and costume designer.

She met José Limón while he was a student with the Humphrey-Weidman Company and married him in California on October 4, 1941. Pauline Lawrence was involved with the José Limón Company since its inception. Her major functions were costume designing and representing José Limón and the company. She served as costume designer and business manager throughout the 1940's and the first half of the 1950's--a period which includes the establishment and growth of José Limón's choreography and the company's success not only in the United States but in Mexico, South America, and Western and Eastern Europe.

Pauline Lawrence Limón continued to design costumes for her husband's dances until her death but relinquished her role as José Limón's representative in the mid-1950's. She died on July 16, 1971, in New Jersey, followed shortly by her husband in December, 1972.

(Per Charles Tomlinson July 1997)

From the guide to the Pauline Lawrence Limón collection, 1934-1958, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)