Lovely pictures of singer Eartha Kitt and actor James Dean taking a Katherine Dunham class in the 50s.
Times when “all kinds of Art” melted together: Modern, Classical Dance, Theatre classes even at the Actor’s Studio under Lee Strasberg, Circus training, Vaudeville (even Burlesque), “Hollywood” and “more commercial” Broadway Musicals… This silly “Snobishness” (“I am a Dancer, you’re not!” or “I am a classical Dancer, therefore I serve the legitimate Art”) did not exist yet, and curiosity, eagerness to learn was “the order of the day”.
I remember mentioning the TV show “Baryshnikov on Broadway”, and this (nearly) “has-been”, a Brazilian “Ballerina” who had her career cut short, being quite “snobby” about that and turning her nose up at my mentioning such “an unsacred thing”!. The poor thing and her failed career… How far she was from “the togetherness” (and OPENNESS) that makes Art possible (That is also why she never really “achieved” it and went on to blame others - but that is always easier and another story. Completely).
Or has anyone forgotten that Mr B. also did musicals and even worked in Hollywood in the 40s? Or that Jerome Robbins (who did MANY Broadway shows) came originally from Vaudeville? And that even Madame Danilova worked in a Broadway Musical? I remember Robert La Fosse doing Bob Fosse’s (no connection) “Dancin’” and being quite comfortable about that! (Just to mention a few examples).
Think of that!
