I just recently finished performing my show, Appalachian Spring in Tokyo, Japan, and it was a huge success. The show was originally commissioned by the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation in the Library of Congress, and it was actually first presented in the theatre there. I commissioned the score, which was written by Aaron Copland, and since then Appalachian Spring has been the most popular ballet in the Graham repertory.
In the performance, I play the bride. I was fifty years old when the show was first performed in 1944. My future husband, Erick Hawkins, played the husband. May O'Donnell was the part of the pioneer woman. The story told is a spring celebration of American pioneers in the 1800s after building a new Pennsylvania farmhouse. I loved dancing this show and danced the role of the bride into my sixties.
In the performance, I play the bride. I was fifty years old when the show was first performed in 1944. My future husband, Erick Hawkins, played the husband. May O'Donnell was the part of the pioneer woman. The story told is a spring celebration of American pioneers in the 1800s after building a new Pennsylvania farmhouse. I loved dancing this show and danced the role of the bride into my sixties.
It sounds like you created a wonderful ballet. The name itself sounds as if it would be wonderful! I can imagine that it was quite popular. What a lovely story of how you found your husband. How ironic! Pioneers are always an interesting subject to write about. Were there any interesting adventures that they went on in the play? I had read when I was a child amazing adventures of the American pioneers. Good for you, that you were able to dance for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring! I myself love the area of dance and jazz. I've always found music so moving and inspirational. Your play seems fantastic! And I love how you ended up marrying your husband from the play. How romantic! It truly does amaze me on how long you danced. You must have been in phenomenal shape to carry on your dancing career for so long. And I congratulate you on your success in the dancing arts area, I know it must have been hard for you as a women to accomplish what you did.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing, I just want to be a part of that audience seeing that inspiring show. It's just your show it explains everything about your life and it really shows your true self. With you being a woman it places you under a hero with all your success you bring joy to others with ur dancing career. With your many years in dancing keep on showing off your moves until you hit that super grove!!!
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