Paying Tribute to Hanya Holm

Here is a newspaper article in New York Times about playing tribute to Hanya Holm, modern-dance choreographer.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/05/arts/paying-tribute-to-hanya-holm-modern-dance-choreographer.html

Choreographer Murray Louis said Miss Holm's "strongest contribution was the logic she brought to the confused thinking of early modern dance" and "an analytical approach totally devoid of sentimentality" in her teaching. The choreographer Glen Tetley recalled that when he was an impoverished student, Miss Holm cooked meals for him.
From these choreographer's reminiscences and evaluation, we can make sure Hanya Holm was appreciated and followed by more recently choreographer. From the reminiscences from Glen Tetley, we can know Hanya Holm is very kind and nice as a teacher. She not only told them how to show in dance, also helped her students' life.

Many speakers pointed out that Miss Holm had remained perpetually inquisitive. John Hunger, a dance teacher from Minneapolis, said he often heard her declare, "Every morning I am a beginner."

Form the John Hunger's said Holm often said" Every morning I am a beginner", we can know Holm always maintain his curiosity and imagination in dance. Although she already has very outstanding achievement on modern dance and ballet musicals, she did not give up to find more interesting and creative style in dance. Her spirit need us to study and have more positive influence on our life. Hanya Holm not only give people the best modern dance performance, but also give us a positive spirit to never give up and maintain our curiosity in life.

Personal opinion of Hanya Holm

Why I chose Hanya Holm?

I choose Hanya Holm because I saw a very interesting comedy Broadway musical play called Kiss me, Kate was choreographed by her. In the golden age of American musicals, this musical play is one of the most screenings performed on Broadway musicals. Because of the love of musical play, I want to know more about the choreographer who can make the excellent and interesting musical play.

Hanya Holm in my eyes

From these Hanya Holm is a tiny woman came from Germany and open a modern dance school based on principles of German expressionist dance in great depression of United States, also become one of the most influential teachers of American modern dance. She is one of the best teachers and choreographers in modern dance and Labanotation exploration. She trained her students effectively liberate and use their body to show dance. Some of her well-known disciples include Alwin Nikolais, Glen Tetley, Valerie Bettis and Don Redlich.From her works, I find she break up the constraint programming of traditional dance, enrich the content of dance performance and highlight the dancer's inner experience and feelings. She won numerous awards for her modern dance and Broadway musical choreography (including My Fair Lady, Camelot and Kiss Me Kate). 

Influence of Holm to me

After reading some articles and watching some videos about the genius dancer - Hanya Holm, she is a very outstanding woman who leave Germany in 1931. She break up the traditional ballet style in people's mind and open a modern dance school in a special great depression. As a teacher Holm emphasized the importance of both technical expertise and emotional expression. Then she also became a major force in American dance and the Broadway theater. Her experience make me know the creative are very important. We cannot yield of tradition, we should do all bravely, don't give up if we have some creation maybe different with tradition. In the specific period, Hanya Holm who is a tiny woman from Germany can achieve his thinking and become the one of the the Big Four founders of American morden dance. Why we need give up? 

Some Choreographies of Holm

Kiss me Kate（1948）

Hayna Holm's Labanotation score for Kiss Me, Kate was the first choreography to be copyrighted in the United States

Composer and Lyricist: Cole Porter

Opening Night: Dec 30, 1948
Original Cast: Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang
Director: John C. Wilson
Choreographer: Hanya Holm

Here is a Link can buy tickets of theater musical if you are interested in this musical:

http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/kate.htm

My fair lady （1956）

choreographed by Hanya Holm, with Julie Andrews, Stanley Holloway, and members of the original Broadway cast.

The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a momentous hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version and numerous revivals. It has been called "the perfect musical"

The Historical event during this time

Historical world events during Holm's time:

1. In Germany 1921-1931: 

        After World War I, Germany experienced the most compelling hyperinflation in the history. At the end of the war, the Allies need Germany pay huge reparations. This huge payment caused the budget deficit in German, and then Germany paid the ultimate payments through fund-raising large numbers of money for reparations. Germany's currency and prices are rising at an alarming rate from January 1922 to December 1924.This situation spiralled out of control and once again the German people were unhappy and in financial difficulty, so uprisings occurred throughout the country. 

         At this time, Hanya Holm meet Mary Wigman and joined Wigman's company and soon advanced to the position of chief instructor and co-director of the Mary Wigman Central Institute in Dresden. In 1929, she danced the princess in one of the early productions of The Soldier's Tale which is her first solo for which she did her own choreography. In 1931, she leave Germany and settled in United States.

2. In United States: 1929-1933 great depression 

           Before World War II, most countries include United States into the most serious depression. This great depression brought a devastating blow in both developed and developing countries. At this special period, this German woman - Hanya Holm open a modern dance school based on principles of German expressionist dance. It was a big rsiky move during the Great Depression, especially with America’s growing anti-immigrant sentiment. But the intrepid Hanya Holm would prove triumphant, becoming one of the most influential teachers of American modern dance. She transformed the German expressionist principles of modern dance to fit her new life in America—the intensity of Wigman’s dances became freer and more abstract.

Background of Hanya Holm

 Who is Hanya Holm?

        Hanya Holm was known as one of the “Big Four” founders of American modern dance. She was a dancer, choreographer, and above all, a dance educator. She was born on march 3rd, 1893 in Germany and died on November 3rd, 1992 in New York City. 

  

                                            This is a video introduce Hanya Holm

Connection with Mary Wigman

        Holm was drawn to music and drama at an early age, so she attended the Institution of Emile Jacques-Dalcroze throughout her childhood and young adult life. At the age of 28, she saw the German expressionist Mary Wigman perform, and decided to continue her dance career at the Wigman School in Dresden where she soon became a member of the company. Mary Wigman and Hanya Holm shared a special bond through movement. Egyptian Dance was said to be the first time Wigman realized the artistic impression Holm was capable of. She had the creative will and ability to shape a choreographic vision into reality. Wigman invited Holm to teach, co-direct the Dresden School, and in her recognition of the opportunity that opening a school in New York could offer the world of dance, eventually sent Holm to launch a Wigman branch in New York City (on September 26, 1931). The initial letters of certification and agreement from Wigman to Holm about the migration over to America to direct the school were found in her house after her death in 1992. These letters were published in Dance, Business, and Politics: Letters from Mary Wigman to Hanya Holm. In the letters the salary was laid out making sure that the transfer would continue to support her son, Klaus, who stayed in Germany, and the letter of agreement signed by both parties "promises to apply all her strength to the advancement of the New York Wigman School and to conduct the work according to Mary Wigman’s ideas ... as well as to see that the M.W. philosophy of dance is implemented faithfully within and outside the New York Wigman School in every possible way". Holm was not only capable of rising to the challenge of representing the Wigman name and teaching philosophy, she also helped to shape the school and build an influence of her own. Due to the rise of fascism and a need to distance the school from German ties, it became known as the Hanya Holm Studio (1936–1967).

Holm Technique and Choreography

Holm was one of the first modern dance choreographers to embrace Broadway. Though her own troupe of dancers folded for budgetary reasons in 1944. Holm continued creating work, She choreographed a section of Ballet Ballads, in 1948, and this musical's acclaim brought her to attention of more prominent Broadway producers. She worked on many theatrical productions, includingKiss Me, Kate(1948), My Fair Lady(1956) (which was nominated for a Tony Award for outstanding choreography) and Camelot(1960). She also directed a 1960s television musical adaptation of Pinocchio. Holm choreographed extensively in the fields of concert dance and musical theatre. Other works by Holm include: Tragic Exodus, They Too Are Exiles, Dance Of Work and Play and Dance Sonata.