“Nikolais’ students, his company dancers, and his creative colleagues are
deeply grateful for his generous giving of his vision and his artistry — to us
and to the world. We thank Nik for being our teacher, guide, and inspiration.”

—Ruth E. Grauert


Bearnstow Journal is an online publication, offering articles on the Nikolais esthetic and the arts.  Editor Ruth Grauert worked for Alwin Nikolais for forty years.  She has created lighting designs for many dancers in that discipline.  A published poet and essayist, Ms. Grauert is the executive director of Bearnstow, an arts and nature summer place in Mt. Vernon, Maine.



The Playhouse Comany 1953 ~ Click image to enlarge.

Bearnstow Journal on this Web site is published by Bearnstow, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.  The site’s development and maintenance are dependent on your tax-ductible contributions.  Please mail checks to Bearnstow, 83 Sanford Place, Jersey City, NJ 07307; or contribute online by credit card through PayPal (click PayPal button).

Pictured left: The Playhouse Comany at the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse in 1953. See some of these dancers today in photos of The Horse’s Mouth, a special centennial celebration in memory of Nik.  Men in back row: Murray Louis, Alwin Nikilais, Floyd Gaffney, and Bill Frank. Women standing: Florence Deutsch, Ellen Griegas, Debby Klein (née Cohen), Gladys Bailin, Phyllis Lamhut, Ruth Grauert, and Nancy Robb. Down front: ***, ***, ***, Billy Shulman, Lenny Landau, and ***. Can you help us with the unidentified persons? If you know who they are, please let us know.



News and Announcements




Composite photograph for Art of Motion, Coppelia, children’s production, 2008
Décor for Dance — Ruth Grauert’s Art Featured at Ursinus Exhibition

     On the 5th of June the artwork of Ruth Grauert was on display in the Alumni Weekend Art Exhibition at her alma mater, Ursinus College. Viewers were treated to a slideshow of cyclorama projections Ruth has created for dances she has designed. The images have been made a permanent part of the Berman Museum of Art collection on the college campus. See a review of Ruth's exhibit by Virginia (Laidlaw) Dillon and an online version of the slide show: Décor for Dance.


Alwin Nikokais Centennial Celebration, 1910–2010

     See photos of From the Horse’s Mouth: Remembering Nik, held at the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse (Abrons Art Center) on April 30, 2010. Slide show photos by Lynn Lesniak and links to photos by Joe Zina and Whitney Browne.




Ruth and Susan in Japan
Ten Days in Japan — Ruth Grauert Visits Susan Buirge

     In December Ruth visited long-time Nikolais alum Susan Buirge in Japan, where Susan is now studying the choregraphic process of Kagura. See Ruth's report and photos: Ten Days in Japan.


Report from the Field — Suzy McDermaid Fridell and “The Magnum Force”

     Suzy McDermaid Fridell (Nikolais ’69–’78) reports on her annual production number for the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction.” See The Magnum Force.


The Conference on the Nikolais Aesthetic

    Held at Bearnstow in Mount Vernon, Maine, in August 2009, the Conference on the Nikolais Aesthetic brought together a wide range of Nikolais alums to explore various aspects of his teaching and to share their experiences with Nik. See more on the Conference.

Most Recent Reviews

Journal Articles


Alwin NIkolias and Ruth Grauert in a lighting rehearsal for Vaudeville of the Elements at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in 1965
 Photo by Eric Sutherland
  • Essays on the art of Alwin Nikolais, by Ruth E. Grauert, comprise Volume I.  Included are Nikolais’ use of light, sound, properties, and motion; a comparison between Nikolais and the Bauhaus; and a brief historic overview and current thought on stage lighting and dance.  Go to the Index of Volume I articles.

  • Essays on Mary Wigman:  We are pleased to present Volume II of Bearnstow Journal, devoted to essays on Mary Wigman.  These include Wigman’s own article on her early experience with Rudolph von Laban, Susan Buirge’s interview with Hanya Holm about Hanya’s early experiences at the Wigman School, Joan Woobury’s and Beverly Blossom’s accounts of their school year with Wigman in Berlin, reprints of Joan Woodbury’s 1956 articles on Wigman from Dance Observer, notes from Peggy Chambers, Julie Hamilton Pleus, and John Wilson, and finally excerpts from Mary Wigman’s letters to Joan Woodbury from 1957 to 1970.

  • A Dance Course Curriculum by Dale Thompson.  Dale Thompson (NDT 1978–1983) has developed a sixteen-week dance curriculum, which also includes a comprehensive reading list.  Click for more information and downloading links.

The Chatterbox

     Read the e-mail discussion forum of former Nikolais/Louis dancers, students, and technical staff members.


Special Links on This Site


You may submit articles, contributions to The Chatterbox, and poetry for inclusion on this site by e-mail to Ruth Grauert.  Please include a short biography and any other information you may consider pertinent.

This Web site (BearnstowJournal.org) is maintained by Jim Van Abbema, who was associated as sound engineer and stage manager / technical director with the Nikolais and Louis companies from 1968 to 1975.  He is currently a Webmaster and copy editor.  For questions about this Web site, e-mail Jim.

Kay Anderson, Coral (Martindale) Aubert, Gladys Bailin, Tandy Beal, Anne Sherman Berry, Bob Beswick, Dorothy Scott Bostwick, Janet Connor, Kitty Cunningham, Virginia Dillon, Louise Eckerson, Suzy McDermaid Freidell, Mimi Garrard, Claudia Gitelman, Sheila Mason Gonzales, Jan Justis, Paul Lawton, Patricia Mayer, Mark Needle, Helen Kent Nicoll, Sara Pearson, Chris Reisner, Frances (Goldie) Stone, and Joan Woodbury have helped us maintain the Bearnstowjournal over this past year.

All work (images and written material) on Bearnstow Journal is copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce any item from this site without prior written permission or authorization from Bearnstow.