Alwin Nikolais
Alwin Nikolais (born November 25, 1910 in Southington , Connecticut , † May 8, 1993 in Paris ) was an American dancer and choreographer .
Life
Alwin Nikolais was of Russian - German origin. He studied modern dance with various teachers, including Mary Wigman , whose assistant he later became. In 1948 Nikolais became director of the Henry Street Playhouse in New York and in 1951 founded the Nikolais Dance Theater . He later took on various engagements, including at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées , the Opéra National de Paris and the Vienna State Opera . From 1978 to 1981 he directed the Center national de danse contemporaine d ′ Angers and trained a whole generation of choreographers, including Alain Buffard and Philippe Decouflé . Alwin Nikolais died on May 8, 1993 in Paris of complications from a heart attack and was buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery.
Awards
- Grande Medaille de Vermeille de la Ville de Paris
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- Guggenheim grant
- 1987 National Medal of Arts
- 1987 Kennedy Prize
Web links
- Alwin Nikolais (Eng.)
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Nikolais, Alwin |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American dancer and choreographer |
DATE OF BIRTH | November 25, 1910 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Southington , Connecticut |
DATE OF DEATH | May 8, 1993 |
Place of death | Paris |