José Limón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids José Limón
Limón performing Mexican Suite in 1944. Photograph by Barbara Morgan
Born	José Arcadio Limón (1908-01-12)January 12, 1908 Culiacán, Mexico
Died	December 2, 1972(1972-12-02) (aged 64)
Occupation	Modern dancer, choreographer
Years active	1929–1969
Former groups	José Limón Dance Company (now the Limón Dance Company)
Dances	The Moor's Pavane (1949)

José Arcadio Limón (born January 12, 1908 – died December 2, 1972) was a famous dancer and choreographer from Mexico. He created a special way of dancing known as 'Limón technique'. In the 1940s, he started the José Limón Dance Company, which is now called the Limón Dance Company. Later, in 1968, he set up the José Limón Foundation to keep his dance ideas alive.

Limón's dances showed the many feelings and experiences of human life through movement. His choreography used big, strong movements like reaching, bending, pulling, and grasping to express emotions. He was inspired by his teachers, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. They taught about how important body weight and energy are in dance.

The Limón technique focuses on the natural rhythm of falling and then getting back your balance. It also highlights how important good breathing is to keep the dance flowing smoothly. Limón used dance movements that felt natural and worked with gravity, making them less strict than traditional ballet.

Limón's most famous dance is The Moor's Pavane (1949). It was based on Shakespeare's play Othello and won a big award. Other dances were inspired by different topics, from a time of political tension in the U.S. (The Traitor) to the life of La Malinche, who was an interpreter for Hernán Cortés. Limón usually set his dances to music, choosing composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin.

Early Life and Learning Dance

José Arcadio Limón was born on January 12, 1908, in Culiacán, Mexico. He was the oldest of twelve children. In 1915, his family moved to Los Angeles, California.

After finishing Lincoln High School (Lincoln Heights, California), Limón studied art at UCLA. In 1928, he moved to New York City to study at the New York School of Design. The next year, in 1929, he saw a dance performance by Harald Kreutzberg and Yvonne Georgi. This show inspired him so much that he decided to become a dancer and joined the Humphrey-Weidman school.

Starting His Dance Career

In 1930, Limón performed for the first time on Broadway. Later that year, he created his first dance, "Etude in D Minor," which was a duet with Letitia Ide. Limón, Ide, and two other schoolmates formed a group called "The Little Group."

Over the next few years, Limón appeared in more Broadway shows. He also choreographed dances at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. He performed in famous dances by Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman.

In 1937, Limón was chosen as one of the first Bennington Fellows, which was a special honor. At the Bennington Festival in 1939, he created his first big dance work called Danzas Mexicanas. After five years, Limón returned to Broadway as a featured dancer in a show called Keep Off the Grass, choreographed by George Balanchine.

In 1941, Limón left the Humphrey-Weidman company to work with May O'Donnell. They created several dances together. On October 3, 1942, Limón married Pauline Lawrence, who was a manager for the Humphrey-Weidman company.

Limón's last Broadway appearance was in 1943. He then spent time creating dances based on American and folk themes. In April 1943, he joined the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army, he worked with composers Frank Loesser and Alex North. He choreographed several pieces for the U.S. Army's Special Services, including a well-known one called Concerto Grosso.

José Limón Dance Company

After becoming an American citizen in 1946, Limón started the Limón Dance Company. He asked Doris Humphrey to be the artistic director. This was special because it was the first modern dance company where the artistic director was not also the founder.

The company first performed at Bennington College. Early members included Pauline Koner, Lucas Hoving, Betty Jones, Ruth Currier, and Limón himself. Dancer and choreographer Louis Falco also danced with the company.

While working with Humphrey, Limón developed his dance style, which became the Limón technique. By 1947, the company performed in New York City. In 1948, they appeared at the Connecticut College American Dance Festival, returning there every summer for many years.

Limón choreographed The Moor's Pavane in 1949. This dance won the Dance Magazine Award for the best choreography of the year. In 1950, Limón and his group performed in Paris. They were the first American modern dance company to perform in Europe.

In 1951, Limón began teaching at The Juilliard School, a famous arts school. He also accepted an invitation to Mexico City, where he created six new dances. Between 1953 and 1956, he choreographed many shows.

In 1954, the Limón Company was one of the first to go on a tour to South America as part of a U.S. State Department program. The company later toured Europe, the Near East, and Central America. Limón received his second Dance Magazine Award in 1957.

In 1956, Limón choreographed The Emperor Jones. This dance was inspired by a play and set to music by Heitor Villa-Lobos. There was some discussion about how the main character was portrayed. Limón believed his work was art and should be performed freely.

When Doris Humphrey, the artistic director, passed away in 1958, Limón took over her role. Between 1958 and 1960, Limón choreographed with Pauline Koner.

In 1962, the company performed in Central Park for New York's Shakespeare Festival. The next year, they toured the Far East for twelve weeks, supported by the U.S. State Department.

In 1964, Limón received the Capezio Award. He was also named the artistic director of the American Dance Theatre at Lincoln Center. The next year, Limón appeared in a TV special about his dance company.

In 1967, Limón received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He and his company were also invited to perform at the White House for President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Limón's last performances as a dancer were in 1969. He performed in The Traitor and The Moor's Pavane at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

In 1970, Limón was diagnosed with cancer. In his final years, he continued to choreograph and even filmed a solo dance for CBS. In 1971, he started the Jose Limón Philadelphia Dance Theater. He passed away in December 1972, at the age of 64.

José Limón Foundation and Limón technique

In 1968, Limón started the José Limón Foundation to keep his dance ideas and choreography alive. In 2008, the foundation received the National Medal for the Arts, a very high honor. In 1985, the Limón Institute was created as part of the foundation. It helps to license his dances and teaches the "Limón technique."

The Limón Institute explains that the technique focuses on the natural rhythms of falling and recovering balance. It also explores the feeling of weight and weightlessness. This helps dancers move in a natural way that can be used in many different dance styles.

José Limón felt that Isadora Duncan, Harald Kreutzberg, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman greatly influenced his dance style. After seeing Humphrey perform in 1945, Limón decided to focus his dances on showing the beauty and sadness of human life, rather than just entertaining people.

His technique used Humphrey's ideas about how body weight changes as a dancer rises, falls, and stays balanced. He encouraged students to think of their bodies like a complex orchestra. He wanted them to move clearly and expressively without being tense. He also paid close attention to proper breathing, which helps movements flow continuously.

The Limón technique was taught by many teachers during his life and after his death. Dance companies like the Doug Varone and Dancers company still teach Limón's style. Limón's own company, now called the Limon Dance Company, is still active. Its main goal is to keep the Limón technique and his dances alive.

Awards and Lasting Impact

Limón received several special degrees from universities, including Wesleyan University and Oberlin College.

In 1973, the José Limón Collection, which includes his papers and materials, was given to the New York Public Library Dance Collection.

In 1988, the José Limón National Dance Award was created in his honor. This award recognizes important people in contemporary and modern dance.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts held a special exhibit about his life and work in 1996. In 1997, he was added to the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Limón was named one of America's "irreplaceable Dance Treasures." In 2012, he was honored with a U.S. postage stamp for his contributions to dance.

Many books have been written about Limón and his technique, including The Illustrated Dance Technique of José Limón (1984). His own writings about his life were published in 1999 as An Unfinished Memoir.

Choreography

See also

In Spanish: José Limón para niños

• List of dancers