Dorothy Alexander (b Atlanta, GA, April 22, 1904; d Atlanta, GA, Nov 17, 1986) was an American ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, and company director. She was founded the what is now the Atlanta Ballet in 1929.[1]
Dorothy Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dorothy Moses April 22, 1904 |
| Died | November 17, 1986 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Dance and choreography |
| Spouse(s) | Marion Alexander, 1926 (divorced 1927) |
Early life
Alexander was born Dorothy Moses in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 22, 1904. She began dancing after a childhood bout of osteomyelitis.[2]
Career
Dorothy Moses opened a ballet school in 1921; it is now the Atlanta School of Ballet. In 1927, she began a ballet program in the Atlanta Public Schools. She studied and danced in New York City, working under choreographer Edwin Strawbridge and dance educator Lucile Marsh.[3] Following a brief marriage to Marion Alexander, she founded the Dorothy Alexander Concert Group in 1929; it was renamed the Atlanta Civic Ballet in 1941, and became the Atlanta Ballet in 1968.[2][4]
Alexander was an advocate for high-quality ballet organizations outside major cities like New York.[5]: 45 In 1956, she organized the Regional Dance America, the first regional dance festival in the United States. She helped to found the National Association for Regional Ballet in 1963.[2]
Personal life
Dorothy Moses married Marion Alexander in 1926; they divorced a year later.[2]
She died of cancer on November 17, 1986.[2]
Awards and honors
- Dance Magazine Award, 1960[2]
- Georgia Governor's Award, 1976[2]
- Capezio Dance Award, 1981[6]
- Honorary doctorate from Emory University, 1986[7]
Sources
- H.C. Smith: “The Atlanta Ballet: Fifty Golden Years,” Dance Magazine (Nov 1979), 88–94
For Wikiquotes
"Technique without art is shallow and doomed. Art without technique is insulting." - DA Christmas message to students, 1939; obit p.100
References
- ^ Burns, Rebecca; Warhop, Bill (May 2006). "Dorothy Alexander". Atlanta. 46 (1): 108.
- ^ a b c d e f g Anderson, Jack (1986-11-19). "Dorothy Alexander, Ballet Figure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
- ^ Anderson, Jack (1981-03-22). "Turnabout for Atlanta Ballet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "Briefs on the Arts". The New York Times. 1973-03-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ Kathryn, Holmes (April 2007). "Passing It On". Dance Teacher. 29 (4): 44–49.
- ^ "Dorothy Alexander to Get '81 Capezio Dance Award". The New York Times. 1981-03-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
- ^ Hauk, Gary S. "Really–the Honor Is Ours | Honorary Degrees | Emory University". Emory University - Office of the Secretary. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
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[[Category:1904 births]] [[Category:1986 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American dancers]] [[Category:American women choreographers]] [[Category:American choreographers]] [[Category:American female dancers]] [[Category:American ballerinas]]