Lewitzky, Bella

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Dancer, associated with the Federal Dance Project.

From the description of Bella Lewitzky interview, 1965 Apr. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220194831

From the description of Oral history interview with Bella Lewitzky, 1965 Apr. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 312025957

American modern dancer and choreographer working as a solo artist and with her own company (since 1964) in California.

From the description of Correspondence, 1957-1984, with Agnes de Mille. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122580115

Ballet dancer, San Bernardino, Calif. Attended high school and junior college in San Bernardino. Danced with the WPA Federal Theatre Dance Group before joining the Lester Horton Group in Los Angeles where she became the group's prima ballerina.

From the description of Bella Lewitzky scrapbook, 1937-1950. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502784

Biographical Note

Bella Lewitzky was born January 13, 1916, in Los Angeles to Russian immigrants. She spent her early childhood in a utopian socialist community in the Mojave Desert before moving with her family to Los Angeles. In 1934, she joined Lester Horton's modern dance company. She rapidly ascended the ranks of Horton's company from novice dancer to lead dancer. On June 22, 1940, she married fellow Horton dancer and architect Newell Reynolds. In 1946, she and Horton founded the Dance Theater of Los Angeles.

In 1955, Lewitzky gave birth to her and Reynolds' only daughter, Nora, who would also dance for the Lewitzky Dance Company (founded in 1966). Over the next 31 years, the Company produced over 50 dances and toured extensively throughout North America and the world. Lewitzky herself danced in many of the company's productions until she stopped dancing professionally in 1978.

In 1989, she was awarded the California Governor's Award for Lifetime Acheivement; in 1996, she was named a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts' National Medal of Arts. Lewitzky was also actively involved in the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival and the efforts to build a venue called The Dance Gallery in downtown Los Angeles.

Lewitzky passed away on July 16, 2004 in Pasadena, California.

Historical Note

The Lewitzky Dance Company was founded in 1966 by Bella Lewitzky and produced more than 50 dance productions over its period of activity. The Company, under the direction of Lewitzky, its Artistic Director, and Larry Attaway, its Music Director, was known for its intellectual approach to dance with a particular emphasis on kinetic movement in space and the relationship between different forms of art. The company toured extensively, visiting 43 U.S. states and 20 foreign countries. In 1990, the Company rejected a $72,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in protest of a line that requires grantees to promise not to create obscene work. The Company would ultimately receive the grant after Lewitzky sued the agency and had the clause removed. On May 17, 1997, the Lewitzky Dance Company gave its last performance after 31 years of activity.

From the guide to the Lewitzky Dance Company records, Bulk, 1966-1997, 1932-1997, (USC Libraries Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. [Programs, announcements] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Bella Lewitzky scrapbook Archives of American Art
creatorOf Archives of American Art sound recordings Archives of American Art
creatorOf Lewitzky, Bella. [Programs] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lewitzky, Bella,. Lewitzky Dance Company collection, [ca.1971-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Director's Office Records of Receptions, Events, and Lectures, 1957-1989. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
referencedIn Lester Horton Dance Theater Collection, 1918-1996, (bulk 1940-1959) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Lewitzky, Bella. Correspondence with Agnes de Mille. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Deny, Sharron Louise Kerr. Bella Lewitzky [microform] : a description of her methods and views on performance and choreography / by Sharron Kerr Deny. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lewitzky, Bella. Correspondence, 1957-1984, with Agnes de Mille. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn The Mel Powell Papers, 1942-1991, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Lewitzky Dance Company records, Bulk, 1966-1997, 1932-1997 USC Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Morris, June,. Interview with June Morris. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Lester Horton Dance Theater. Lester Horton Dance Theater collection, 1926-1996 (bulk 1940-1959). Library of Congress
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Oral history interview with Bella Lewitzky Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Deny, Sharron Louise Kerr. person
associatedWith Federal Theater Project (Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Horton, Lester, 1906-1953. person
associatedWith Lester Horton Dance Theater. corporateBody
associatedWith Lewitzky Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith McGlynn, Betty Hoag person
correspondedWith Mel Powell person
associatedWith Morris, June, person
associatedWith New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Reynolds, Newell Taylor person
associatedWith Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Subject
Ballet
Ballet dancers
Choreographers
Dance
Dance companies
Dance companies
Dancers
Dancers
Dancers
Federal aid to the arts
Modern dance
Women dancers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Active 1937

Active 1950

Information

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