Ross, Bertram, 1920-

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Bertram Ross was the principal male dancer of the Martha Graham Dance Company from 1957-1973. His later career was as a choreographer, teacher and singer.

Bertram Ross Prensky was born on November 13, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He was an accomplished pianist and painter, when he was drafted into the Army. After military service, he moved from the role of budding visual artist to dancer and enrolled at the Graham school. In 1949 he joined the company, and in 1953 first partnered Graham, as Oedipus in Night Journey. In 1966 he was named co-director of the company, first with Robert Cohan (later Director of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre) and with Mary Hinkson, both dancers in the company. Ross and Hinkson have been credited with keeping the company going during Graham's dark period, but both resigned after Graham's return with new director Ronald Protas, a non-dancer. Ross left the company in 1973. The Times, of London described him thusly; "For two decades he was the most vital member of the Graham Company except for its innovative founder and if its work is to continue, this will be in large measure thanks to his contribution." Ross had other activities to keep him busy. While with the Graham Company, he also had a touring company (Bertram Ross Dance Company) for which he choreographed. He made side trips into theater, acting in The Tempest. He taught at Julliard, New York University, and The Mary Anthony Studio. Later, he presented solo dance-theater portraits (Raymond Duncan, Noah). After Graham's death, he re-created several dances for her company. He starred in several roles in Amy Greenfield's 1990 film Antigone. Ross debuted as a singer in 1975 and in 1984 created a successful cabaret act with John Wallowitch, a prolific songwriter, pianist and cabaret performer. The two performed throughout the United States and London. He and Wallowitch are the subjects of This Moment, a 1998 documentary, and a CD called Wallowitch and Ross. Ross suffered for years with Parkinson's syndrome but died from pneumonia on April 23, 2003. John Wallowitch was Ross' life-partner of thirty-six years and died in Aug. 2007.

From the description of Bertram Ross papers, 1910-2006 (Bulk dates 1980-1996) (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 244175067

Bertram Ross Prensky was born on November 13, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. He was an accomplished pianist and painter, when he was drafted into the Army. “After military service, he moved from the role of budding visual artist to dancer under the spell of Graham and enrolled at the Graham school. In 1949 he joined the company, and in 1953 first partnered her, as Oedipus in Night Journey ”.

In 1966 he was named co-director of the company, first with Robert Cohan (later Director of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre) and with Mary Hinkson, both dancers in the company. Ross and Hinkson have been credited with keeping the company going during Graham’s dark period. But they both resigned after Graham’s return with new director Ronald Protas, a non-dancer. Ross left the company in 1973. The Times, of London described him thusly; “For two decades he was the most vital member of the Graham Company except for its innovative founder and if its work is to continue…this will be in large measure thanks to his contribution”.

Ross had other activities to keep him busy. While with the Graham Company, he also had a touring company (Bertram Ross Dance Company) for which he choreographed. He made side trips into theater, acting in The Tempest. He taught at Juilliard, New York University, and The Mary Anthony Studio. Later, he presented solo dance-theater portraits (Raymond Duncan, Noah). After Graham’s death, he re-created several dances for her company. He starred in several roles in Amy Greenfield’s 1990 film Antigone .

Ross’ debut as a singer was in 1975. In 1984 he created a successful cabaret act with John Wallowitch, a prolific songwriter, pianist and cabaret performer. The two performed throughout the United States and London. He and Wallowitch are the subjects of This Moment, a 1998 documentary, and a CD called Wallowitch and Ross.

Ross suffered for years with Parkinson’s disease but died from pneumonia on April 23, 2003.

John Wallowitch was Ross’ life-partner of thirty-six years and died in Aug. 2007.

From the guide to the Bertram Ross papers, 1910-2006, Bulk dates 1980-1996, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Ross, Bert. Southwest oral history project : cassette tape and video tape inventory / compiled by Bert Ross. Western New Mexico University, J. Cloyd Miller Library
referencedIn Lucille Lortel papers The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Bertram Ross papers, 1910-2006, Bulk dates 1980-1996 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn John Wallowitch collection of noncommercial video recordings, [videorecording], 1980- The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Ross, Bertram, 1920-. Bertram Ross papers, 1910-2006 (Bulk dates 1980-1996) New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Ross, Bertram. The development, theory and applications of the gamma function and a profile of fractional calculus / [MiKroform] Bertram Ross.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ailey, Alvin. person
associatedWith Gish, Lillian, 1893-1993. person
associatedWith Graham, Martha. person
associatedWith Hepburn, Katharine, 1907-2003. person
associatedWith Holbrook, Hal. person
associatedWith Lortel, Lucille person
associatedWith Martha Graham Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Saddler, Donald person
associatedWith Wallowitch, John person
associatedWith Wallowitch, John. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Choreographers
Choreographers
Dance companies
Dance companies
Dancers
Dancers
Modern dance
Modern dance
Occupation
Singers
Choreographer
Dancers
Dance teachers
Activity

Person

Birth 1920

Male

Americans

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