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Lester Horton. January 23, 1906 – November 2, 1953. BIography. Lester Horton was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 23, 1906. He was credited with launching the modern dance movement in Los Angeles and for establishing the country’s first racially integrated dance company.
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Lester Horton January 23, 1906 – November 2, 1953
BIography • Lester Horton was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 23, 1906. • He was credited with launching the modern dance movement in Los Angeles and for establishing the country’s first racially integrated dance company. • In the 1920’s-40’s he developed a dance technique based on Native American dances, anatomical studies and other movement influences. • Warm-up includes: flat backs, lateral stretches, tilt lines, lunges and primitive squats.
Lester Horton Dance Theater • Known as one of the first permanent theaters dedicated to modern dance in the U.S., in Los Angeles in 1946. • Horton was among the first choreographers in the U.S. to insist upon racial integration in his company. • The dance theater closed its doors in 1960.
Horton Technique • Horton believed in getting the body warmed up and blood flowing quickly, so class begins standing. • The technique is designed to improve dancers’ physical limitations so they might pursue any form of dance. • He was interested in clearly defined shapes with energy and use of space. • The technique develops both strength and flexibility, and works with an energy that is constantly in motion. • Primary focus of his Beginner level studies is creating length in the spine and hamstrings. ~Dance Spirit, March 23, 2017 (Horton Technique)
Horton’s Choreography • Le Sacre du Printemps to Stravinsky’s score premiered at the Hollywood Bowl for an audience of almost 20,000 on August 5th, 1937. Horton emerged into the public eye, creating a mature and sustained work that showed not only his style, but use of music, theatricality, and integration of varied artistic influences. • Horton’s best-known works, which he called “choreodramas,” are Salome (which occupied him for nearly two decades) and The Beloved.
Salome (1934-1953) • Based on Oscar Wilde’s play of the same name, this piece exists in at least six different versions-he revisited choreography several times. • The Biblical story of Salome has been choreographed and danced in hundreds of versions over the past 85-90 years, but it occupied Lester Horton from 1934-until his death in 1953. At the age of 28 he began telling the story of Salome, whose dance before Herod led to the beheading of John the Baptist. • Many times he revisited the story to develop his choreography, which should provide insights into the development of the art and craft of this important choreographer.
The Beloved (1948) • This dance is based on a disturbing tale of a religious fanatic who falsely accuses his wife of infidelity and murders her. Horton’s inspiration came from a newspaper article he read about a man who bludgeoned his wife to death with a bible because he thought she had been unfaithful. ~WordPress.com
Horton’s Legacy • Horton died November 2, 1953 of a heart attack at his home. • His dance technique and choreography has survived through the www.lhdt.org Lester Horton Dance Theater Foundation, Inc., which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Horton’s contributions as dancer, choreographer and educator. • Since 1969, the Horton technique has been standard training for students of the Alvin Ailey Dance Center in New York City.
