''The Moor's Pavane'' is a 20-minute ballet based upon the tragedy '' Othello'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

. The ballet was choreographed by José Limón in 1949 to music from Henry Purcell's '' Abdelazer'', ''The Gordion Knot Untied'', and the pavane from ''Pavane and Chaconne for Strings'', arranged by Simon Sadoff.Choreographic Analyses of The Moor's Pavane: The Unbearable Lightness
/ref> This ballet is José Limón's most famous work and his influence from Doris Humphrey is evident in his choreography. It was created on the Limón Company. There are only four dancers who appear in this rendition of ''Othello''. These dancers represent The Moor, originally played by Limón himself, Desdemona, originally played by Betty Jones, Iago, originally played by Lucas Hoving, and Emilia, originally played by Pauline Koner. Desdemona, an innocent character and tragic victim, is betrayed by Iago who hints that she has been unfaithful. This causes Othello to murder her. These dramatic actions and events take place in the form of a pavane, which is a type of courtly dance. The stately and formal choreography provides a stark contrast to the emotional and passionate characters and the violent story. The work premiered at the Connecticut College American Dance Festival on August 17, 1949.

American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant. Through 2019, it had an annual eight-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center) in the spr ...

was the first company outside Limon's company to include the work in its repertory. Notable interpreters of the Moor include Rudolf Nureyev and

Cynthia Gregory Cynthia Kathleen Gregory (born July 8, 1946) is an American former prima ballerina. Career Born in Los Angeles, Gregory took up dancing when she was five, with the encouragement of her parents, who hoped exercise would stem her history of childho ...

. Since its creation, ''The Moor's Pavane'' has been added to the repertories of many different companies, including major ballet companies, showing the fading divisive line between modern dance and ballet.

References

External links

Telecast excerpt, 1955
A selection (1 minute 40 seconds) from original footage telecast by the Canadian Broadcasting Company on 6 March 1955, featuring Betty Jones, José Limón, Lucas Hoving and Pauline Koner Ballets to the music of Henry Purcell 1949 ballets Ballets based on works by William Shakespeare Works based on Othello {{Ballet-stub