Jose Limon on a personal level

Researching Jose Limon has been such an honor to do. His history is so rich with experience and has been beyond interesting. Jose Limon is important to me, not only because he is apart of my dance history, but he is a part of a chain of choreographers that brought something a little new to the table. On a more personal note, I think Jose Limon's movement in his work is great to watch and even more fun to do.

In class with Ed Burgess, who was in the Limon Company, I see a lot of relation in movement quality that we are given to do. It's all very "Limon" like at times. The fall and recover, releasing the body into and out of the floor, and the almost dramatic feel of the movement we are given relates so closely to Jose Limon's movement type.

I think Jose Limon should be remembered always because he is a big part of the dance history chain. No, he is not the founder, nor the latest choreographer, but he was a link from one to another. Jose came out of the direction of Doris Humphrey and Jose lives on through his company, influences people still today. He is a link to the bigger picture and should be greatly appreciated as someone to look back on.

Today, the Jose Limon Dance Company is still performing Limon's original works and is creating new work under Carla Maxwell, who worked closely with Limón before becoming Artistic Director in 1978. The Company’s repertory, which balances classic works with commissions from contemporary choreographers, is of an unparalleled breadth, creating unique experiences for audiences around the world.

This timeline of Limon's career below just goes to show how he still is important in the dance scene today.

1908: José Arcadio Limón is born in Culiacan, Mexico 1915: Limón’s family moves to the United States; first to Arizona, and then to California. 1928: Limón moves to New York City. 1929: Limón sees his first dance performance and enrolls in the Humphrey-Weidman School. 1930: Limón appears in Americana, a musical revue on Broadway featuring dances by Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. 1937: Limón creates his first major choreographic work, Danzas Mexicanas, while in residency at Mills College as part of the Bennington Festival. 1943: Limón is drafted into the U.S. Army and choreographs several works for the Special Services. He is discharged in 1945. 1946: Limón forms his own dance company with Doris Humphrey, his mentor and teacher, as Artistic Director and co-choreographer. 1947: The José Limón Dance Company has its debut performance at New York’s Belasco Theater. The New York Times hails Limón as “the finest male dancer of his time” and favorably reviews the choreographic works of both Limón and Humphrey. 1948: The Company appears at the first Connecticut College American Dance Festival, where it remains in residence each summer until 1973. 1949: Limón creates and premieres The Moor’s Pavane, a masterwork that remains one of the most widely performed modern dances in the world. 1950: Limón receives his first Dance Magazine Award, for The Moor’s Pavane. 1951: Limón begins his association with the Juilliard School in New York, where he will teach and choreograph until his death. 1954: The Company inaugurates the U.S. State Department’s International Exchange Program with a tour to South America. 1957: Limón receives his second Dance Magazine Award. 1958: Doris Humphrey dies on December 29th, marking the end of a remarkable 30-year creative partnership with Limón. 1963: The Company is the first dance company to perform at Lincoln Center, in Philharmonic Hall. 1964: Limón receives a Capezio Dance Award, and is appointed Artistic Director of Lincoln Center’s American Dance Theater, a publicly supported modern dance repertory company. 1965: The original cast of The Moor’s Pavane is invited to perform at the White House for the Johnson Administration. 1968: The José Limón Dance Foundation is incorporated, establishing a non-profit organization that is dedicated to Limón’s work in the dance field. 1969: Limón begins setting his dances on other companies: American Ballet Theater produces The Moor’s Pavane and The Traitor, and the Royal Swedish Ballet presents an all-Limón program. Limón makes his final stage appearance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, performing “The Leader” in The Traitor and “The Moor” in The Moor’s Pavane. 1972: The Company presents its final season under Limón’s direction and premieres his final work, Carlota. He dies of cancer on December 2nd. 1973: The Company tours the Soviet Union; Ruth Currier is appointed Artistic Director, and begins to shape it into a modern dance repertory company. 1975: Carla Maxwell is appointed Assistant Artistic Director 1977: The Company celebrates its 30th anniversary at New York’s Roundabout Theater. 1978: Carla Maxwell is appointed Artistic Director of the José Limón Dance Foundation, and the Company presents its NYC season at City Center—Roots of American Dance—which establishes it as a dance company with a repertory from a range of choreographers. 1982: The Company’s NYC performances are part of the Joyce Theater’s inaugural season. 1985: The Limón Institute is formed as a component of the José Limón Dance Foundation to oversee the licensing of Limón dances and offer classes in Limón Technique. 1986: The Company drops “José” from its title, re-naming itself the Limón Dance Company to emphasize its status as a repertory company. 1994: The Company establishes a formal presence in San Jose, CA, performing annually and conducting education/outreach activities. 1995: The Company performs for the Clinton Administration at the White House. 1996: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts presents The Dance Heroes of José Limón, a retrospective exhibition on Limón’s life and work. The exhibition is permanently installed in the National Dance Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Limón is inducted into the Hall of Fame. 1997: The Company celebrates its 50th Anniversary and performs in Sarajevo. 1998: Artistic Director Carla Maxwell is honored with a Bessie, New York’s performance Award; Executive Director Mark Jones receives the Arts & Business Council’s Arts Managers Excellence Award. 1999: Limón’s autobiographical writings are edited by Lynn Garafola and published as An Unfinished Memoir by Wesleyan University Press. 2000: Limón is named one of “America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” by the Dance Heritage Coalition. 2002: The Company premieres Carla Maxwell’s re-creation of Limón’s Psalm at the Cultural Olympiad in Salt Lake City, UT. Company dancer Nina Watt receives a Bessie award. 2004: Limón: A Life Beyond Words documentary film broadcast nationally and released on DVD 2005: Limón Dance Company's Kristen Foote named in Dance Magazine's Top 25 To Watch 2006: The Company celebrates its 60th Anniversary and Carla Maxwell's 40 years with the Company. Company dancer Kurt Douglas named in Dance Magazine's Top 25 To Watch; Artistic Associate Roxane D'Orleans Juste receives Bessie Award. 2007: 40th CORD Conference celebrates Limón's 100th birthday. 2008: On behalf of the Jose Limon Dance Foundation, Artistic Director Carla Maxwell accepts the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush. Into My Heart's House: Created in 2008 Choreography: Clay Taliaferro Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Valentin Silvestrov, Nick Bartsch, Joanne Metcalf

Into My Heart's House from Jose Limon on Vimeo.

http://www.limon.org/