Enters, Angna, 1897-1989

Variant names

Hide Profile

Angna Enters (born 1897, Anita Enters) was a dancer, mime, and visual artist, performed solo productions such as “The Theater of Angna Enters,” “Pagan Greece,” and “Episodes” from 1924 through the end of the 1960s, most prolifically from 1924-1939, choreographing, designing, and performing all parts. (Enters is sometimes stated to have been born in 1907; this was the birthdate she used but she was born in 1897.)

Enters was born in New York City and graduated from North Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1925. She saw the first Denishawn concert tour the same year, and the following year, an American tour of Sergei Diaghilev's Les Ballets Russes. In June 1926, Enters enrolled in Milwaukee State Normal School, a normal school for teachers, design and drawing (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee). Enters moved to New York to study at the Art Students League of New York in 1929, and began to study dance with Michio Itō the following year, eventually performing as Michio's partner in 1933. That year she created her first piece, an evocation of a statue of a Gothic Virgin, entitled "Ecclesiastique." The piece later became "Moyen Age." In 1934, she borrowed $25 with which to present her first solo program at the Greenwich Village Theater. Her solo program, The Theatre of Angna Enters, toured the United States and Europe until 1939 and was performed, though less often, until 1960. In 1934, Enters was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to study Hellenistic art forms in Athens, Greece.

Enters was a visual artist with a prolific body of work, as well, from sketches and paintings to woodblock prints and lithographs. Her visual works were exhibited in the United States and Europe, sometimes coordinated to appear simultaneous to her performances. The sketches were often costume designs for her performance characters. Enters was an author of multiple autobiographies, and acted as an instructor at the Stella Adler School from 1957-1960. She was an artist-in-residence at the Dallas Theatre Center after husband Louis Kalomyne’s death in 1961, teaching courses on mime at Bailor University, and from 1962-1963, taught at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. From 1970-1971, Enters was an artist-in-residence at the University of Pennsylvania, and her last known public performance was given there during that academic year.

Enters first met Louis Kantor Kantor in 1921. She changed her name formally to Angna and he changed his surname to Kalonyme in 1924. Enters married Kalonyme in 1936 in Spain, and were in a secret marriage nearly until Kalonyme’s death in 1961, when he publically acknowledged their relationship. Enters lived in several nursing homes in the New York, New York area from 1976 until her death in 1989 February.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Walter Terry papers, 1913-1982 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Mary Fanton Roberts papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Angna Enters papers, 1920-1989, ca. 1930-1973 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Spewack, Samuel and Bella. Papers, ca.1920-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Conroy, Jack, 1899-. Letter, 1963 Aug. 6, Midlothian, Ill., to Don Roscher, Chicago. University of Michigan
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Letter, 1960 May 5, New York, to Lillian Moore, New York. [1] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
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 Enters, A. : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Belknap Collection for the Performing Arts. Belknap Collection, Theatre 1936- : Pantomime. University of Florida
referencedIn Clarence McGehee collection on Ruth St. Denis, ca. 1908-1937 University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Elizabeth McCausland papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Parmenia Migel papers, 1945-1990. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Angna Enters correspondence, 1921-1973 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Letters, 1960-1961, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1930-1945. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. Houghton Library
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Scrapbook: Clippings, photographs and programs, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Angna Enters and Louis Kalonyme papers, 1919-1960 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Mary Fanton Roberts papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Additional papers, 1870-1969. Houghton Library
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Angna Enters papers, 1920-1989 (bulk ca. 1930-1973) New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Angna Enters : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Moore, Lillian. Scrapbooks. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Vienna-Provincial : colored pencil sketch, [1945, ca.Dec 31], Beverly Hills, Cal. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Toscanini, Walter, 1898-1971,. The Walter Toscanini Collection of research materials in dance: Elssler. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Samuel and Bella Spewack Papers, ca.1920-1980 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Letters to Edward L. Berman, 1933-1946 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Correspondence, 1921-1973. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1955-1958. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Paintings, 1940-1970. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Angna Enters [ca. 1930-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Angna Enters collection Houghton Library
creatorOf Oral history interview with Agnes Martin Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith A. and S. Lyons, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Adler, Kurt Herbert. person
associatedWith Albert Lewin person
associatedWith Alvin Theatre corporateBody
associatedWith American Committee for Chinese War Orphans corporateBody
associatedWith American National Theatre and Academy corporateBody
associatedWith Anderson, Judith, Dame, 1898-1992. person
associatedWith Anderson, Robin person
associatedWith Art Institute of Chicago. corporateBody
associatedWith Art Students League (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Ashley Famous Agency corporateBody
associatedWith Ashley-Stainer Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Associated Press, The corporateBody
associatedWith Association Française D'Action Artistique corporateBody
associatedWith Audrey Raisbeck person
associatedWith Bank of America Trust Department corporateBody
associatedWith Berman, Edward L. person
associatedWith Bogue, Anna person
associatedWith Bossom, Emily person
associatedWith Brewster, Kate person
associatedWith Brice, Fanny person
associatedWith Brice, Fanny. person
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
correspondedWith Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 person
associatedWith Capehart-Carey Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Celli, Vincenzo. person
associatedWith Cochran, C. B. (Charles Blake), 1872-1951. person
associatedWith Columbia Artists, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia Broadcasting System. corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia Management of California corporateBody
associatedWith Conroy, Jack, 1899- person
associatedWith Copyright Office corporateBody
correspondedWith Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962 person
associatedWith Damon, Samuel Foster, 1897-1971, person
associatedWith Detroit Institute of Arts corporateBody
associatedWith DHCA corporateBody
associatedWith Doris Bry person
associatedWith Dukes, Ashley, 1885-1959. person
associatedWith Ellie Greene person
associatedWith Enters, Angna, 1897-1989. person
associatedWith Enters, Henriette Styleau person
associatedWith Eric S. Pinker and Adrienne Morrison, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Eugene O'Neill person
associatedWith Farrar & Reinhart Inc. Publishers corporateBody
associatedWith First Bank corporateBody
associatedWith Fogg Museum of Art corporateBody
associatedWith Fox, Goldman & Kagon corporateBody
associatedWith Garson, Greer, 1904-1996 person
associatedWith Giesen and Boomer, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Gimbel Brothers. corporateBody
associatedWith Goulden, Jane person
associatedWith Grondahl, Louise person
associatedWith Harcourt, Brace and Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Herman, Andrew. person
associatedWith Honolulu Academy of Arts corporateBody
associatedWith Hopper, Hedda, 1890-1966. person
associatedWith Houghton, Mifflin and Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Huttenback Artist Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith ITHMA corporateBody
associatedWith Itō, Michio, 1893-1961. person
associatedWith Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival corporateBody
associatedWith Jerome, William person
associatedWith John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Robert Edmond, 1887-1954. person
associatedWith Jules Goldstone person
associatedWith Kahn, Otto Hermann, 1867-1934. person
associatedWith Kalonyme, Louis. person
associatedWith Kalonyme, Louis. person
associatedWith K. Porter person
associatedWith Lady Carter person
associatedWith Le Centre D'Art corporateBody
associatedWith Leigh Bureau of Lectures and Entertainment corporateBody
associatedWith Leigh-Emmerich Lecture Bureaus, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Lewin, Albert, 1894-1968. person
associatedWith Lewin, Millie person
associatedWith Libby Holman person
associatedWith Lloyd, Margaret. person
associatedWith Lloyd, Margaret, 1887-1960 person
associatedWith Louis Kalonyme person
associatedWith Marin, John, 1870-1953 person
associatedWith MCA Artists, Ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith McCausland, Elizabeth, 1899-1965. person
associatedWith McGehee, Clarence person
associatedWith Mercury Theatre (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Mercury Theatre (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer corporateBody
associatedWith Metropolitan Opera Guild. corporateBody
associatedWith Michio Ito person
correspondedWith Migel, Parmenia. person
associatedWith Moore, Lillian. person
associatedWith Mrs. Leonard Elmhirst person
associatedWith Mrs. Watkins Cushing person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith New York City Council for Art Week corporateBody
associatedWith Norman, Dorothy person
associatedWith O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986 person
associatedWith O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986. person
associatedWith O'Neill, Carlotta. person
associatedWith O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953 person
associatedWith O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953. person
associatedWith Paramount Pictures corporateBody
associatedWith Penn, Irving. person
associatedWith Phoenix Theatre corporateBody
associatedWith Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890-1980. person
associatedWith Rambert, Marie person
associatedWith Rambert, Marie, Dame, 1888-1982. person
associatedWith RCA Manufacturing Company, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Renoir, Dido person
associatedWith Renoir, Dido. person
associatedWith Renoir, Jean, 1894-1979. person
associatedWith Roberts, Mary Fanton person
associatedWith Roberts, Mary Fanton, 1871-1956. person
associatedWith Rostand, Edmond, 1868-1918. person
associatedWith Russian War Relief corporateBody
associatedWith School of the Art Institute of Chicago corporateBody
associatedWith Scott, Winfield Townley, 1910-1968. person
associatedWith Shan, Bertha person
associatedWith Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950. person
associatedWith Shearer, Norma, 1900-1983. person
associatedWith Sloan, John person
associatedWith Society of Independent Artists corporateBody
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel, 1899-1971 person
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel and Bella. person
associatedWith Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946 person
associatedWith Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946. person
associatedWith Terry, Walter person
associatedWith Toby person
associatedWith Toscanini, Walter, 1898-1971, person
associatedWith Ullman, Arthur person
associatedWith USO - Camp Shows, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith W. Colston Leigh, Inc corporateBody
associatedWith Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975. person
associatedWith Yale University corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
United States
Subject
Art, American
Art
Artists
Women authors
Women authors
Designer
Manuscripts
Manuscripts (Letters)
Mimes
Mimes
Painters
Performance artists
Watercolorists
Women artists
Women choreographers
Women choreographers
Women dancers
Women dancers
Women painters
Women painters
Women screenwriters
Women screenwriters
Occupation
Artists
Authors
Choreographer
Dancers
Mimes
Painter
Screenwriters
Women composers
Women dancers
Activity

Person

Birth 1897-04-18

Death 1989-02-25

Birth 1907

Death 1989

Americans

German,

Spanish; Castilian,

French,

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tj9crm

Ark ID: w6tj9crm

SNAC ID: 87373839