Jane Dudley (April 3, 1912 – September 19, 2001) was an American

modern dance Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which included dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th ...

r, choreographer, and teacher. Inspired by her mentor, choreographer Martha Graham, Dudley helped bring her movement inspired by social ills to the

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in the 1950s.

Biography

Dudley was born in New York City on April 3, 1912. She was the daughter of

Pendleton Dudley Pendleton Dudley (September 8, 1876 – December 10, 1966) was an American journalist and public relations executive. Once considered the "dean of public relations", he is best known as the long-time outside publicity counsel to AT&T and as a f ...

and Hermine Jahns, and attended the Walden School in New York City. While attending the Walden School, Dudley was inspired by artists, creative thinkers, and dancers to pursue her passion for dance. Following her graduation from the Walden School, Dudley went on to study dance with

Hanya Holm Hanya Holm (born Johanna Eckert; 3 March 1893 – 3 November 1992) is known as one of the "Big Four" founders of American modern dance. She was a dancer, choreographer, and above all, a dance educator. Early life, connection with Mary Wigman Bo ...

Louis Horst Louis Horst (born January 12, 1884, Kansas City, Missouri – died January 23, 1964, New York City) was a composer, and pianist. He helped to define the principles of modern dance choreographic technique, most notably the matching of choreography t ...

, and Martha Graham. In 1935, Dudley first met Martha Graham at the Bennington Summer Course and performed in a piece titled "Panorama" with the Martha Graham Company. It was not until 1936 that she performed as part of its main stage company. During her time with the dance company, Dudley was inspired by Graham's work rooted in political ideas and its fast movements. It was also during this time that she was inspired to write about her experiences during the Great Depression as a performer.

Dudley-Maslow-Bales trio

In 1942, Dudley and

Sophie Maslow Sophie Maslow (March 22, 1911 – June 25, 2006) was an American choreographer, modern dancer and teacher, and founding member of New Dance Group. She was a first cousin of the American sculptor Leonard Baskin. Born in New York City in 1911 by ...

both students of Martha Graham formed a dance a trio with William Bales. The trio performed all over the United States including cities such as, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. A piece titled ''Vagary'' was staged and performed in 1949 at The American Dance Festival. John Martin, of

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said of Dudley's performance in 1949, "At any rate, she moves so beautifully and with such superhuman control that just to watch her is in itself a delight, let the intention be what it will." The choreography of the trio was and is still seen as representative of the 1940s as it featured folk music and captured the American spirit of the era. Writer David Wood argues that Jane Dudley's "choreography was always a pleasure to perform, but more for the doing of the movement itself than its content or its form." In 1954, the trio split up and Dudley continued to choreograph and shape American dance.

Solo career

Following the trios end, Dudley returned to

Bennington College Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont. Founded in 1932 as a women's college, it became co-educational in 1969. It claims to be the first college to include visual and performing arts as an equal partner in ...

in the 1960s and by 1968, she had become the artistic director for Betsheva Dance Company. Two years later, in 1970, Dudley moved to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and continued performing as director of the London Contemporary Dance School. She married and later divorced filmmaker Leo Hurwitz with whom she had one son. Jane Dudley died in September 2001 at the age of 89 in London.

Notes

References

* Chujoy, Anatole. ''The Dance Encyclopedia''. (Simon and Schuster, 1967) * McDonagh, Don ''The Complete Guide to Modern Dance''.(Doubleday and Company, 1976) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dudley, Jane 1912 births 2001 deaths American choreographers Martha Graham Modern dancers Artists from New York City Walden School (New York City) alumni American expatriates in England