News & Notes

News and activities of Nikolais/Louis company members and students.
Send us your updates and special memories.

In Memoriam: Kelly Roth, October 23, 1953–February 19, 2021

Much-loved friend and colleague Nik/Lou alumni Kelly Roth passed away on February 19 at age 67. Kelly started his study at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Theatre Lab in 1976. He performed in New York with Sara and Jerry Pearson, Lorry May, Robert Small, Robert Diaz and Thomas Holt. In 1978, he was a guest artist with the Paris-based Danse Theatre Susan Buirge at the Berlin Festival. He also performed on tour with the Murray Louis Dance Company and assisted Mr. Louis in the creation of Suite for Erik (Five Haikus), setting it on former Joffrey Ballet star Gary Chryst and the late Erik Bruhn.

In 1995, Kelly relocated to Las Vegas to build a dance program for the Community College of Southern Nevada. In addition to his duties as head of the CCSN Dance Program, he choreographed for such organizations as the Las Vegas Civic Ballet and the Desert Dance Theatre. Roth and choreographer Kyla Quintero founded the Dance in the Desert Festival, which began as an opportunity for local choreographers to present their works and is now an annual event that grew to include artists from throughout the West.

In Memoriam: Anne McLeod Koletzke
December 20, 1944–September 8, 2019

On Sunday morning, September 8, Beth Bagnold wrote that Peter Koletzke had asked her to share his message with the Nik/Lou family. Such sad news, but for anyone who was in contact with her, this was a battle of several years. See Anne’s complete Memorial Page.

Ruth Grauert Celebrates Her 100th Birthday! March 24, 2019, Art of Motion Studio, Ridgewood, New Jersey The video on the right shows Ruth making her en­trance where nearly by 100 family members, friends and artists celebrated her 100th birthday party. This monumental gathering brought together artists—dancers from the professional dance world and former campers and contemporary students from the Bearnstow camp in Maine as well as family members. The great variety of distinguished guests can be seen in the slide show below. The mayor Ramon Hache of Ridgewood, New Jersey read his proclamation, declaring: March 24, 2019, “Ruth Grauert Day”! Video by Lynn Needle

 The crowd sings “Happy Birthday” (again)!

Video by Sari Nordman (Unfortunately, the sound was lost in this recording.) Ruth replies: “You can’t realize how happy you all have made me. From years back you're here and from current you're here too. It just spans the years, and I love all of you.”

Ruth Grauert visits Morelia, Mexico

In April 2018, Ruth took off for Mexico to visit long-time Bearnstow Resident Artist Nitzia Vieyra in Morelia, Mexico. While there she viewed classes at Nitzia’s dance school, was wined and dined, and enjoyed some local sight seeing. During her visit, another long-time Bearnstow Resident, Jonathan Trejo (right), came down from Colima and paid them a visit.

In Memoriam: Murray Louis
November 4, 1926–February 1, 2016
See memorial tribute.

A Memorial Celebration for Murray Louis
Sponsored by Bearnstow, was held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the Mount Vernon Community Center, Mount Vernon, Maine ~ See images of the event.

Click arrow to begin video.

Murray was unable to attend, but his spirit was present as Bebe Miller enu­merated his many accomplishments and creative endea­vors, first in asso­ciation with the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater and then his own, the Murray Louis Dance Company.

The award was gra­ciously accepted on his behalf by Al­berto Del Saz who of­fered a personal message from Louis with whom he had visited earlier that day.

Lest anyone forget Murray’s amazing grace and fluidity and delightful style, a video was shown of him dancing ex­cerpts from his own choreography.

Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur

Member of the early Nikolais Dance Theater
received highest French honor on December 2, 2015.

Ambassador Thierry Dana bestows the insignia of the chevalier of the Legion of Honor on Susan Buirge.

Susan and husband Jiro enjoy the musical interlude at the reception.

Susan reflects upon the evernt. A moving moment. Surprising of an unexpected emotion. Followed by the festivities in the lounges of the Residence of the Ambassador. So many friends coming from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, Kyoto, Kobe, Kyushu, Shimane, and Tokyo. Glasses of champagne, the laughter, the photographs. The musical surprise of a composition for the occasion by a composer friend, for piano and violin—entitled “If…” A music so beautiful that the desire to dance invades me. The musicians play again. And there, medal pinned on the heart, shoes removed, standing upright while remaining in one spot in the corner of a large carpet I danced, again, one last time…

Beverly Blossom in 1999 in "The Incom­plete Lament of an Old Dancer" Photo by Beatriz Schiller

University of Illinois dance students in performance of Brides at the Beverly Blossom Memorial Gala on November 1 at Hunter College in New York City ~ Photo by Costas

Bearnstow Hosted Alamanac

On August 1, 2015, Bearnstow hosted the Almanac Dance Circus Theatre at the Vienna Union Hall. The Philadelphia-based company featured Nicole Burgio, Ben Grinberg, Nick Gillette, and Adam Kerbel. Ben Grinberg (in 2014) and Adam Kerbel (in 2013) were Artist Residents at Bearnstow.

Open promtional flier (PDF).

Kinetic Cinema Videos by Mimi Garrard and her mentors Alwin Nikolais and James Seawright Friday, July 3, 7:30 p.m., Bearnstow Main Hall 84 Bearnstow Road, Mount Vernon, Maine (admission free)

Mimi Garrard assembled works on video from 1964 to 2014, which span her prolific career as a dancer with the legendary Alwin Nikolais, as a choreogra­pher, and later as a video artist. The program also features the work of Alwin Nikolais and James Seawright. It includes work created out­doors and in the studio, in color and black and white, from pure movement to theater. This video collection was presented at Pentacle in New York City on December 11, 2014 and at Bearnstow on July 3, 2015. See Kinetic Cinema.

A Tribute to the Legacy of Alwin Nikolais Held at the Abrons Arts Center (the Henry Street Playhouse), on Friday, June 12, 2015 Nikolais alumni dancers perform Tensile Involvement for the finale of the Alwin Nikolais tribute. Performed by James Murphy, Timothy Harling, Trista Redavid DeFilippis, Kim Gibilisco, Lynn Lesniak Needle, Peter Kyle, Elizabeth Higgins, Kay Andersen, Donna Scro Samori and Alberto del Saz ~ Photo by Maria Volpe

From the Horse’s Mouth Celebration of Murray Louis

From the Horse’s Mouth celebrated Murray Louis on May 3, 2015. Twenty-five outstanding dancers, choreographers, critics, and friends shared their stories of Murray. Tito passed along congratulaitons to all:

Dear DOLLS!

I can’t not thank you enough for yesterday’s display of LOVE, respect and admiration for our dear Murray. I know that he was genuinely touched and as you all witnessed, very emotional and teary at times, which is a quality that he rarely likes to display in public.

The abundance of incredible talent that was displayed on that stage was a manifestation of what a treasure each one of us is. Every soul in that theater audience felt that Nik and Murray are imprinted in our DNA and are very much the fabric of our lives.

For all of you that came from near and far once again thank you so much for your generosity, beauty, artistry, professionalism and selflessness. I love you dearly and I will for ever be grateful to each one of you.

Yours always,
Alberto (Tito) del Saz

© Arthur Fink

In Memoriam: Beverly Schmidt Blossom August 28, 1926–November 1, 2014 We are saddened to learn of the death of Beverly Blossom on Saturday, November 1, from cancer. The funeral service was held on Friday, November 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Michalik Funeral Home in Chicago. Nikolais alumni and friends are invited to offer condolences to her son, Michael Blossom. See Beverly’s Memorial Web Page. A memoral gathering to honor Beverly is being planned in New York in fall 2015.

Bearnstow Salutes its Resident Artists!

Almanac Dance Circus Theatre: Claire Healy, Martita Abril, Nick Gillette, Molly Hess, Adam Kerbel, Evelyn Lang­ley, Alyssa Kennamer, Emmanuel Becerra, and Ben Grin­berg (click photo to enlarge)

Four Bearnstow Resident Artists per­formed with the Almanac Dance Cir­cus Theatre in Phil­adelphia on Octo­ber 23 to present Har­vest: New Works from Maine, Mexico, and Beyond.  Bearnstow’s Resi­dent Artists in­cluded Adam Kerbel, Evelyn Lang­ley, Em­manuel Becerra, and Ben Grin­berg. Bearn­stow’s Day Camp instruc­tor Molly Hess saw the performance and joined the photo.

Bearnstow’s Young Artist Residency Program is designed to give young dancers a summer of total contact with professional dance instruction and to give Bearn­stow a cadre of capable assistants who help maintain the opera­tion of the camp. Dur­ing the course, our young artists have designed pro­grams and promotional ma­terial, conducted re­search, composed sound scores, choreo­graphed their own works, and created dance videos. In every sense of the word this ten-week dance in­ten­sive is a graduate-level course in contemporary dance.

© Erie Times-News

In Memoriam: Tom Caravaglia April 10, 1922–July 10, 2014 Tom Caravaglia, long-time photographer for the Nikolais Dance Theater and the Murray Louis Dance Company—and a much-revered photographer by the dance community, died on Thursday, July 10, after a long illness. “We have lost a great human being and the best photographer we have known. His eye for the time to click the shutter was truly miraculous.” —Ruth Grauert See memorial page with a description of Tom’s funeral Mass and photos of his work. A celebration of Tom’s life was held on September 14 at the Paul Taylor Studios.

From Centenary College’s Centenarian, Summer 2014

Just some of the group: (facing forward) Mimi Garrard, Millie Parker, Alfredo Rico, Lynn Levine, and Terry Conlon

We gratefully acknowledge those who contributed to
the Bearnstow Scholarship Fund in honor of Ruth’s 95th birthday.

Maryann Archard, Gladys Bailin Stern, Sarah Beers, Madonna Belanger Wasco, Linda Combs, Jan Connor, Susie Creitz, Virginia Dillon, Janet Erickson Bird, Kathy Gaedje, Ruth Gibbs, Andrea Kaufman, Peter Koletzke, Phyllis Lamhut, Sarah Lougee, Suzy McDermaid Fridell, Shiela Mason, Gerald Otte, Nicholaus Pekar, Claire Porter, Christine Reisner, Barbara Risen Gottschalk, Pat Rosenberg, Linn Schlaifer, Jim and Mimi Seawright, Gloria Smith, Amy Spears; Jeanette Stoner, Fred Timm, and Joan Woodbury

In Memoriam: Dorothy Vislocky
February 16, 1927–October 26, 2013

Founding member of the Nikolais Dance Theater, Professor Emerita at Hunter College, and renowned and cherished member of the dance community, Dorothy Vislocky, died on Saturday, October 26, 2013.

See tributes and remembrances.

Photo: "Paraphernalia" from Masks, Props and Mobiles II, 1955. Courtesy of the
Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Collection, Mahn Center for Archives and
Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries

View of flooded path and parking lot from Main Hall

Phyllis Lamhut Receives Distinguished Teaching Award

Phyllis Lamhut with Nikolais, Louis, and Lamhut company members at the American Dance Festival award ceremony From left to right: Robert Small, Donald Blumenfeld, Helen Kent Nicoll, Natasha Simon, Phyllis Lamhut, Alberto Del Saz, and Dianne Markham

On June 14, the 2013 Balasaraswati/ Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to celebrated educator and mentor Phyllis Lamhut by Duke University for her incredible contribution to dance education. The Chair was established in 1991 and recognizes the dual role of teachers in passing on dance history and tradition and in guaranteeing the future creativity of the art form.

See the video 80 Faces: Eighty Years.
Eighty Stories on YouTube.

Ruth Grauert Receives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Photo by Jimmy Glenn, Centenary College

On Saturday, May 18, Ruth received an honorary doctorate from Centenary College in Hacketstown, New Jersey. Ruth graduated from Centenary Academy (then a preparatory school for girls) in 1935. This past March, she returned to Centenary (after 78 years!) to give a lecture on lighting (see below).

Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, President of Centenary College, made the following introduction:

Ruth E. Grauert, would you please join me to receive your honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree?

     We are already proud to call Ruth an alumna, as she graduated from Centenary Academy in 1935. Over her 70-plus years in the dance world, she has worked as a performer, teacher and mentor. Today she is still active as a lecturer, choreographer and lighting designer for contemporary dance. Among the many highlights of her career, she spent 40 years working for multimedia artist Alwin Nikolais and has created lighting designs for many artists in that discipline. She also worked as a stage director for Murray Louis, a lighting designer and stage manager for Phyllis Lamhut and others, and has written numerous articles on dance, dance history and dance lighting. She is a founder and director of Bearnstow, a summer arts retreat in Maine.

     When Ruth and I were robing in the Front Parlours, she said something—and she said I could share it with you. Ruth looked around and said that everything had changed since she was a student, except for two couches. And she said, “And don't get rid of those couches. I did a lot of courtin’ and sparkin’ on them!”  [Laugh from the audience]

     It is my honor, by the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees of Centenary College, to confer upon you, Ruth E. Grauert, the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

I do indeed thank you for honoring me. In turn, I feel I must acknowledge those teachers of Centenary Academy in the 1930s who laid the foundation for my professional life: Mrs. Olive Herring, who made it possible for me to study various dance techniques instead of volley ball or tennis; Miss Couch, who taught public speaking, technical theater and acting; and Dr. Louise Omwake, my life-long friend, who taught me to think clearly and to write succinctly. These are the tools of my profession for which you honor me, and for which, in all humility, I must honor them.

Above: Ruth Grauert lectures for dance and theater students at Centenary College. Right: Centenary students pose with Ruth onstage after the lighting lecture.

Ruth Returns to Centenary after 78 Years After graduating from Centenary Academy in 1935 (then a preparatory school for girls in Hackettstown, New Jersey), Ruth returned 78 years later to Centenary College (now a four-year coeducational baccalaureate-degree and masters-degree institution) to give a lecture on lighting for dance. On Monday, March 4, she presented “Using Light to Serve Choreography” to some 20–30 students and faculty from Centenary’s dance and theater departments. Ruth lectured in the campus’s “Little Theater”—the same theater where she took acting and speech classes in the early 30s. Her students were enthusiastic and actively took part in the demonstrations. After the lecture, Ruth was presented with a letter of invitation to receive an honorary doctorate at Centenary’s May graduation ceremonies.

Former Bearnstow interns with Ruth Grauert: Karla Koyazo, Leticia Bravo (friend of Adriana), Adriana León, Ruth Grauert and Verónica Guarneros pose before the distant Volcán de Colima. Former Bearntow interns with Ruth Grauert: Karla Koyazo, Alejandro Vera, Ruth Grauert, Adriana León, Liliana López (friend of Adriana) and Verónica Guarneros beside a lake in a park outside Colima

Ruth Visits Colima, Mexico,
January 17–31, 2013

     I flew into Guadalajara, was met by Emmanuel Beccera (Beanstow intern for two seasons), and then bussed to Colima. There, Nitzia Vieyra (four-season intern) took me to the Fobos Studio, where I stayed in their guest room complete with kitchen. The next day, Adriana León (two-season intern at Bearnstow) and her husband, Alex (one-season intern), and Karla and Vero (both Bearnstow interns) with their friends took me on an outing near Colima’s volcano.

     In the course of my stay, I audited classes at the university (Graham technique, ballet, Limón technique), watched a rehearsal of a work by Alex and Adriana, audited ballet and folkloric classes in studios in town. (Colima must have more dance per capita than any other city of its size.) I also visited two festivals with Alex and Adriana in nearby towns. (Mexico goes in for festivals!) The first was to select “Queen for the Year.” Alex's cousin won the title amidst mad cheering of the crowd. The second was a folk dance festival that included a folk company friendly with Fobos. They did alright with their Mexican folkloric, but one group presented the hula. I turned away and watched a group of men fly from their 100-foot pole around and around. Much better!

     I saw a rehearsal and the premiere of this season’s Ballet Folklórico de México (see review). And finally, I had a folkloric music concert just for me in the Fobus studio on my last night. Happy stuff.

     Observed from the bus on my leaving: the Colima volcano sending a farewell plume into the sky.

Bearnstow Dancers Perform in Mexico, December 2012

Members of the FoBos Dance Company on the stage of the Teatro Hidalgo, Colima, Mexico: (from left to right standing) Felipe Muñóz Saldaña, Mary López, Katya Ursúa, Nitzia Vieyra, Paola Saucillo, Peter Kyle, Fernando Rabell, Fredy Torres; seated center, Italo Ortíz Photo: Omar Rojas

Peter Kyle writes:

     “FoBos, a project of the larger Casa de las Artes Proyecto Ensamble, invited me to participate as the first international artist in their festival, the Encuentro de Danza Contemporánea: Frontera Occidente (Contemporary Dance Festival: Western Frontiers), in Colima. I was in Colima from December 5 to 9, and while there I performed my new evening-length solo, 100 DAYS in the theater at Casa de las Artes, followed by a Q & A,, which Nitzia Viera moderated beautifully. On the following night I performed Frail Demons in the beautiful and historic (19th century) Teatro Hidalgo, a tiered, European-style opera house in the center of Colima. FoBos performed a work of their own by Artistic Director Henrry Tema to round out the program. In addition, I taught two master classes to the FoBos company as well as other dancers from the Colima community, including students in the dance department at the University of Colima. On my last night there, I participated in a roundtable discussion with three other artists: Vivian Cruz (a dance-film artist from Mexico City, a former dancer with Ultima Vez, Wim Vandekeybus’s company in Beligium), Henrry Tema, and Adriana León (a professor from the University of Colima Dance Department and former teacher to nearly all the dancers involved in the FoBos/Casa de las Artes organization.”

Peter returns to Bearnstow next summer, July 14–20, to conduct his workshop, Slow Tempo.

Nitzia Vieyra has been an intern at Bearnstow for four years. She is a graduate in dance from the University of Colima, Mexico, where she is has been teaching as well as performing with the FoBos company. She will return to Bearnstow with members of FoBos August 25–31 where the company will perform at Bearnstow and in the immediate area. The company is available for additional performances September 1–7.

Dave Brubeck Remembered, 1920–2012

From Janis Brenner and Dancers — We were saddened by the loss of the great artist and humanitarian Dave Brubeck. As most of you may know by now, the jazz giant passed away on Wednesday, December 5th, just shy of his 92nd birthday. We mention this not only to acknowledge Dave’s passing, but to express a personal side to this recent news. Janis had the life-altering experience and honor of working, playing and touring with the Dave Brubeck Quartet as a member of the Murray Louis Dance Company in the mid-1980s. Almost thirty years after the February 1984 City Center premiere of Four Brubeck Pieces (program on the left), the Juilliard Dance Division, in collaboration with the Jazz Division, will revive and premiere the 2013 version of the work. After an exciting year of putting all the components together between Murray Louis, Alberto del Saz (Co-Artistic Director of Nikolais/Louis and restager of the work), Larry Rhodes (Director of Dance at Juilliard), Russell Gloyd (devoted, long-time manager, arranger and conductor for Brubeck), Dave and Iola Brubeck, and Carl Allen (Director of Jazz at Juilliard), Janis’s dream was to see Murray and Dave reunited after 23 years, taking a bow together on opening night, April 3, 2013, at the Peter J. Sharp Theater. Now the April 3–7 performances will not only honor the genius of Murray Louis’s and Dave Brubeck’s dynamic collaboration but will also serve as a tribute to Dave’s legacy. A heartfelt toast to Brubeck’s glorious life, music and family.

In Memoriam ~ Claudia Gitleman

Dancer, choreographer, author, Rutgers University Professor Emerita of Dance,
died on August 7, 2012.

See tributes and remembrances.

Photo by Norman Ader

Photo by Dasha Chernova

Une vie dans l'espace de la danse
(A Life in the Span of Dance)
A new book by Susan Buirge (March 2012, in French)

From her childhood in Minneapolis with her first dances in front of her grandfather, to her arrival on the coast of the Japan Sea in 2008, passing through the Juilliard School, the 1968 autumn in California, her arrival in Paris in 1970 where she began working in dance institutions, this book traces the itinerary of Susan Buirge. The choreographer revisits fifty years of contemporary dance, from the school of Alwin Nikolais in New York to her discovery of kagura, the traditional Japanese dances of the countryside, as well as her life as an artist and as a woman. See excerpt translated by Virginia Dillon.

Composite photograph for Art of Motion, Coppelia, children’s production, 2008

Susan Buirge in Kyoto, December 2009 Photo by Ruth Grauert

2009 Honorees: Beverly Blossom, Hortense Zera, Jacqueline Green, and Virginia Johnson ~ Photo by Tony Powell

Ruth Grauert (center left) and Bebe Miller (left behind Ruth) with honorary degrees in hand after the award ceremony at Ursinus College; Photo by Virginia Dillon

Life of Danial Shapiro Celebrated at the Joyce
     Many gathered on the 5th of May, 2007, to honor the life of dancer-choreographer Danial Shapiro at the Joyce Theater in New York City.  See Danial Shapiro, a Celebration of a Life

Left: Frankie Garcia and Ruth Scherer at Nik and Murray’s house on Barrow Street, mid-70s (photo by Beth Bagnold). Right: Ruth and Frankie at the Joyce Theatre in New York City, February 1988 (photo by Michael Ballard). In Memoriam ~ Ruth Scherer       Long-time office administrator for Nikolais/Louis from the Henry Street Playhouse to the 18th Street studio, Ruth Scherer passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2007. We so remember her warm personality, which nurtured all of us. After leaving the Nikolais/Louis organization she volunteered at the American Museum of Natural History. I spoke with her in December and found her still the loving, bouncing person that we all knew and loved.   —Ruth Grauert

Porcelain Dialogues Revived      at St. Mark’s Church.       On Feb. 1–4, 2007, Janis Brenner and Guests performed a revival of Murray Louis’s 1974 Porcelain Dialogues, pictured here from left to right: Sara Pearson, Betsy Fisher, Robert Small, Janis Brenner, Michael Blake, and Peter Kyle. Opening night was dedicated to Murray Louis and the late Danial Shapiro. See Dance Insider announcement (PDF). Photo © Julie Lemberger

Mary Anthony Receives the Martha Hill Award of 2006
    The Martha Hill Awards Gala of 2006, honoring Mary Anthony, was held at The Peking Park Restaurant on November 27. The speakers included Denise Jefferson, Hudas Liff, Donna Faye Burchfiield, Joan Finkelstein, and Doris Herring, all of whom spoke at length, as did Katie Dorn, who received the Young Professional Award, and Doug Elkins, who was honored with the Fund’s first Mid-Career Award. Mary Anthony spoke gently with humorous brevity. It really was a luminous affair. Phyllis Lamut, Claudia Gitelman, Steven Vendola, and Henning Rübsam joined me honoring Mary, who has been so much a part of our Nikolais heritage. —Ruth Grauert

Murray Louis receives Honorary Doctorate, Photo by Cathy Kuehner

Murray Louis Receives Honorary Doctorate on 80th Birthday. 
     Shenandoah University honored Murray Louis with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts on November 4, 2006. The award ceremony followed the conservatory’s Fall Dance Ensemble Performance, which featured his Bach Suite (1956) and the “Bird Solo” from A Stravinsky Montage (1982). The reconstruction of Bach Suite was made possible by American Masterpieces: Dance, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. See Claudia Gitelman’s report of the award ceremony.


Danial Shipiro (MLDC 1978–1985) Dies at Age 48 (October 3, 2006)


     “Danny was a BIG man whose motion ideas escaped the confinement of a small floor by moving to tables and beds, chairs and barrels. I still see him flying through the air to some unlikely landing place. So I’ll remember him as a MOVER who could not be constrained. He dared to leap for the moon and hang on a star, making them a part of HIS world.”  —Ruth Grauert

Danial Shapiro, 48, Dancer Who Created Abstract Works, Dies by Jennifer Dunning, October 9, 2006, The New York Times


Murray Louis Receives the 2006 Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival $35,000 Award
     June 18 at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina — see details.


Nikolais/Louis Legacy Workshops Alumni Week, held July 24–28, 2006, Salt Lake City, Utah, “an astonishing and extraordinary event,” according to attendees.  See the gallery of snapshots and photos.

Ruth Grauert accepts Martha Hill Award. Award presented by Beverly Blossom.

Ruth Grauert receives the Martha Hill Award:  On November 28, 2005, Ruth Grauert received the Martha Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at Hunter College in New York City.  See introduction by Beverly Blossom and Ruth’s acceptance at the Award Gala (click arrow to begin video).


Tribute to Murray Louis Concert.  December 17–18, Hunter College Kaye Playhouse. See flyer (PDF document).


An Evening with Beverly Blossom—Funny, Compassionate, and Wise:  Bernie West Theatre (Baruch College).  At 79, Beverly Blossom returned to New York in September 2005 in a one-woman show that she called “The Incomplete Lament of an Old Dancer.”  See New York Times review.

From Cafe Mahleria, choreographed by Kelly Roth. The dancers: Noel Brown, Jaime Velilla, and William Griffin. Costumes: Catherine Irving-Conner. Performed April 9, 2005, at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California.

Kelly Roth started his study at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Theatre Lab in 1976. He has performed in New York with Sara and Jerry Pearson, Lorry May, Robert Small, Robert Diaz and Thomas Holt. In 1978, he was a guest artist with the Paris-based Danse Theatre Susan Buirge at the Berlin Festival. He has also performed on tour with the Murray Louis Dance Company and assisted Mr. Louis in the creation of Suite for Erik (Five Haikus), setting it on former Joffrey Ballet star Gary Chryst and the late Erik Bruhn.

     In 1995, Kelly relocated to Las Vegas to build a dance program for the Community College of Southern Nevada. In addition to his duties as head of the CCSN Dance Program, he choreographs for such organizations as the Las Vegas Civic Ballet and the Desert Dance Theatre. Roth and choreographer Kyla Quintero founded the Dance in the Desert Festival, which began as an opportunity for local choreographers to present their works and is now an annual event that has grown to include artists from throughout the West.

     Kelly Roth & Dancers/Concert Dance Company, has appeared in the Avignon Festival in France, to the International Choreographic Festival in Mexico City, Prague Festival 2000 in the Czech Republic and in frequent engagements in California, Arizona, and Utah. In June 2003, Kelly Roth and company received first prizes for choreography and Best Contemporary Dance Presentation at the Dance Grand Prix Italia in Cesena, Italy. Cited for “high artistic achievement,” Mr. Roth is the recipient of a prestigious Nevada Artist’s Fellowship for 2005.


Mimi Garrard reflects on her Nikolais heritage:  Tapping into the Eternal: My Journey with Alwin Nikolais

     Two Film Festivals this summer will screen Mimi Garrard’s videodances:  In June, Omagbitse Suite will be presented at TREEPEOPLE as part of the 2005 Dance On Camera West Festival in Los Angeles and at the Fear No Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah.  See MimiGarrardDance.com.


Helen Kent-Nicoll Update (December 2004)


Crocodiles of Cuba, an Earthwatch Expedition trip to Cuba (April, 2004)


On June 8, 2004, Phyllis Lamhut hosted at her home a book signing, honoring Claudia Gitelman and her Liebe Hanya, which is now available in the major book stores.  (See Review by Ruth Grauert.)


Annelise Mertz (Professor Emerita of Washington University in St. Louis) Wins the 2004 Missouri Arts Award, the State’s Highest.


Wanda Pruska-Wallace (Henry Street Playhouse and NDT 1960–1983, MLDC 1971–1975) and her husband, David Wallace, now operate a resort called Nature’s Paradise on St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Phyllis Lamhut recommends it highly as “a great place, most beautiful.” Wanda offers a 20% discount to the Nikolais-Louis “Family” (mention Bearnstow Journal when you inquire). And Nature’s Paradise has a dance studio available! See www.facebook.com/naturesparadise/ (And pictures of Wanda! — Wanda and David Wallace) .


Greetings from Suzy McDermaid Freidel (and Squire and “Puck”) from Glenlyon Vineyards & Winery.  (See also www.glenlyonwinery.com.)


The Nikolais Legacy Forum, held at Hunter College, Oct. 10–12, was a tremendous success.  More on the Legacy Forum.


Knocked Knees, New York, and Nik — a memoir by Susan P. Lloyd (October 2003)


Reflections on a Reunion.  On March 22, 2003, Nikolais-Louis alumni gathered at the home of Mimi Garrard and Jimmy Seawright to commemorate the life to Frankie Garcia, who died in December, and the tenth anniversary of Alwin Nikolais’ death.  See photos from that event by Norman Ader & Peter Koletzke and by Jimmy Seawright.


It Rained in the Sahara, a trip to Morocco (February 2003)


Pantanal Team VI, a trip to Brazil’s Pantanal (April, 2002)