Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973

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Mary Wigman, German modern dancer and choreographer, was born Mary Wiegmann, November 13, 1886 in Hanover. She trained first with Emile Jaques-Dalcroze in Hellerau and Dresden and later with Rudolf von Laban in Anscona, Switzerland and in Munich. Her debut as a concert dancer and choreographer occurred in 1919. Successful performances encouraged her to open her own school in Dresden, where among her first students were Yvonne Georgi, Gert Palucca, and Harald Kreutzberg. By 1925, her students included Ruth Abrahamowitsch, Hanya Holm, and Tilly Losch. Her students performed as a company, touring Western Europe throughout the 1930's. Wigman performed at the Berlin Olympics of 1936, but the National Socialists closed her school, and she became a teacher at the Leipzig Music Academy. After World War II, she returned to Berlin, re-opening her school in 1948, which became the center for the German modern dance movement. She choreographed over one hundred dances for herself and her dancers but also worked in various German opera houses, staging productions of Gluck in Leipzig and Mannheim and a famous joint performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Catulli Carmina in 1955. She died in Berlin September 18, 1973.

From the guide to the Mary Wigman letters, 1932-1969, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

From the guide to the Letters to Margaret Gage, 1947-1973, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

From the guide to the Letters to Walter Sorell, 1964-1973, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

German modern dance pioneer in choreography, technique, and teaching theory.

One of Wigman's many students was Margaret Gage, American dance teacher, performer, and choreographer.

From the description of Letters, 1947-1973, to Margaret Gage. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122580105

Born in Hanover, Germany in 1886, Mary Wigman is considered to be one of the founders of the modern dance movement. Through her studies in Emile Jaques-Dalcroze's Eurhythmics school and with Rudolf von Laban in Ascona, Switzerland, she used dance as an expression of life and created her own style referred to as expressionist dance or "absolute" dance. Her early performances were silent or danced with percussion only. In 1920 she opened her own school in Desden, Germany where she taught her theories of movement. She died in Berlin in 1973.

Pola Nirenska was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1910 and insisted on dancing as a child. Although she had very little early training she attended the Wigman School and graduated with honors in music and dance in 1931. Nirenska performed in the 1932-1933 Wigman company tour through the United States and Germany. At the start of World War II, Nirenska, who was Jewish, emigrated to England. In 1949, Nirenska moved to the United States where she studied dance with leading modern dance choreographers and opened her own company in 1951 in Washington, D.C. Pola Nirenska died in Maryland in 1992.

Sources:

Dunning,Jennifer. "Pola Nirenska, a Choreographer And Teacher, Is a Suicide at 81." The New York Times, July 31, 1992. Accessed June 28, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/31/arts/pola-nirenska-a-choreographer-and-teacher-is-a-suicide-at-81.html.

"Wigman, Mary (1886-1973)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Biography In Context. Accessed July 3, 2012. http://ic.galegroup.com.

From the guide to the Mary Wigman letters to Pola Nirenska, 1932-1958, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Huebert, Diana, 1899-1983. Diana Huebert papers, 1916-1983. Newberry Library
referencedIn Nikolais, Alwin,. Interview with Alwin Nikolais. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Glaeser, Ludwig. Mies van der Rohe : research papers, 1968-1980. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968. Papers of Ruth St. Denis, 1904-2007 (bulk 1930-1970). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Letters to Margaret Gage, 1947-1973 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Joan Mowat Erikson collection of photographs of modern dance in Germany, 1923-1931. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Hellebrandt, Beatrice,. Scrapbook, no. 6: Clippings, photographs and programs. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Kriehn, Ruth Louise. Ruth Louise Kriehn papers, 1951-1973. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Greetings to Mary Wigman on her 75th birthday, 13 November 1961, from her American friends. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Dance program and ephemera collection, 1909-1987 University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Letters to Walter Sorell, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Michel, Artur. Artur Michel papers, 1832-1987 (bulk 1920-1946) New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1927]-1972. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Potter, Howard E. Correspondence, writings, photographs, publicity materials. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Wolfe, Katharine. Katharine Wolfe papers, 1912-1972 (bulk 1928-1964) New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Nirenska, Pola. Pola Nirenska collection, 1910-1992 (bulk 1950-1992). Library of Congress
referencedIn Dance program and ephemera collection, 1909-1987. University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Holm, Hanya, 1893-1992,. Interview with Hanya Holm. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Katharine Wolfe papers, 1912-1972, 1928-1964 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Theatre Arts Monthly, collection of portraits, ca., ca., 1924-1939 (bulk), 1916-1964 (inclusive). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Wigman-Schule-Dresden. [Catalogs, announcements, etc.] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Thimey, Erika,. Interview with Erika Thimey. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Dance Notation Bureau Collection, 1930- The Ohio State University. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Insitute.
referencedIn Page, Ruth, 1899-1991. Ruth Page works and memorabilia, 1923-1983. Newberry Library
referencedIn Saida Gerrard Collection, 1930-1980 USC Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Albert Renger-Patzsch papers, 1890-1980, 1924-1966 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Hayn, Elsa. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Albert Renger-Patzsch papers, 1890-1980, 1924-1966 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Hellebrandt, Beatrice,. Scrapbook, no. 3: Clippings and programs. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Gage, Margaret. Reminiscences of Mary Wigman. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn George Brinton Beal papers, circus collection, and other theatrical collections, 1862-1969. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Gitelman, Claudia. Correspondence, notes, reviews, publicity materials. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn José Limón papers, ca. 1927-1972 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Mary Wigman letters to Pola Nirenska, 1932-1958 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Pola Nirenska Collection, 1910-1992, (bulk 1950-1992) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Limón, José. Papers, [ca. 1927]-1972. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Renger-Patzsch, Albert. Albert Renger-Patzsch papers, 1890-1980 (bulk 1924-1966). Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Lert, Ruth Clark, 1915-1997,. Ruth Clark Lert dance library and archive, 1831-1994 (bulk 1950-1980). University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Letters to Walter Sorell, 1964-1973 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Mary Wigman-Gesellschaft [clippings] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Cannell, Kathleen, 1891-1974. Papers of Kathleen Cannell, ca. 1890-1974 (inclusive), 1944-1974 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Mary Wigman letters, 1932-1969 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Letters, 1947-1973, to Margaret Gage. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Walter Sorell research files on Mary Wigman, 1927-1976 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn New York Wigman School of the Dance. [Catalogs, announcements, etc.] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Dodge, Shirlee, 1916-2008. Shirlee Dodge collection of Mary Wigman materials, 1922-1989. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Wigman Centennial Day questionnaire. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Erikson, Joan M. (Joan Mowat),. Joan Mowat Erikson collection of photographs of modern dance in Germany, 1923-1931. Houghton Library
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. The Mary Wigman book [galley-proofs]. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Kloepper, Louise,. Interview with Louise Kloepper. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Letters to Katharine A. Wolfe, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Groat, Jenny Hunter,. From dance to calligraphy to painting : an oral history : transcript, 2004 / Jenny Hunter Groat ; interviewers, Marisa Willow, Wendy Pritzker ; editors, Alyson Belcher ... [et al.]. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Scrapbooks: Clippings and photographs, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973. Scrapbook: Clippings, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Shirlee Dodge collection of Mary Wigman materials, 1922-1989 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Sorell, Walter, 1905-1997. Walter Sorell research files on Mary Wigman, 1927-1976. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Laban Collection, 1918-2001 Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance: Laban Archive
referencedIn Ruth Clark Lert Dance Library and Archive, 1831-1994, (bulk 1950-1980) University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Mary Wigman Studio, Berlin. [Catalogs, announcements, etc.] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Hanya Holm papers, 1803-1984, dates 1931-1980 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Artur Michel papers, 1832-1987, 1920-1946 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beal, George Brinton. person
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
associatedWith Cannell, Kathleen, 1891-1974. person
associatedWith Carousel Dance Theatre for Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Dance Notation Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Dodge, Shirlee, 1916-2008. person
associatedWith Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars corporateBody
associatedWith Erikson, Joan M. (Joan Mowat), person
associatedWith Erlanger, Margaret, 1908-1975 person
associatedWith Gage, Margaret person
associatedWith Gage, Margaret. person
associatedWith Gerrard, Saida person
associatedWith Gitelman, Claudia. person
associatedWith Glaeser, Ludwig. person
associatedWith Groat, Jenny Hunter, person
associatedWith Hayn, Elsa. person
associatedWith Helfman, Max person
associatedWith Hellebrandt, Beatrice, person
associatedWith Heritage Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Holm, Hanya, 1893-1992, person
associatedWith Huebert, Diana, 1899-1983. person
associatedWith Idyllwild Arts Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Kloepper, Louise, person
associatedWith Kriehn, Ruth Louise. person
associatedWith Laban, Rudolf Jean-Baptiste Attila., 1879-1958 person
associatedWith Lert, Ruth Clark, 1915-1997, person
associatedWith Limón, José. person
associatedWith Limón, José. person
associatedWith Limón, José person
associatedWith Mary Wigman Studio, Berlin. corporateBody
correspondedWith Michel, Artur. person
associatedWith New York Wigman School of the Dance. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Wigman School of the Dance. corporateBody
associatedWith Nikolais, Alwin, person
correspondedWith Nirenska, Pola. person
associatedWith Page, Ruth, 1899-1991. person
associatedWith Potter, Howard E. person
associatedWith Renger-Patzsch, Albert. person
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Sorell, Walter, 1905-1997. person
associatedWith St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968. person
associatedWith Tanzgruppe Mary Wigman. corporateBody
associatedWith Thimey, Erika, person
associatedWith Tzerko, Aube person
associatedWith University of California, Los Angeles . corporateBody
associatedWith University of Judaism. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Southern California . corporateBody
associatedWith Veen, Jan, 1908-1967, person
associatedWith Weidman, Charles person
associatedWith Wigman-Schule-Dresden. corporateBody
associatedWith Wolfe, Katharine. person
associatedWith Zemach, Benjamin person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Germany
Subject
Dancers
Dancers
Manuscripts
Manuscripts (Letters)
Modern dance
Modern dance
Occupation
Teachers
Choreographer
Dancers
Activity

Person

Birth 1886-11-13

Death 1973-09-18

Germans

German

Information

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Ark ID: w6s75pb1

SNAC ID: 24667927