La Meri facts for kids

La Meri (born Russell Meriwether Hughes) was an amazing American dancer. She was also a choreographer, which means she created dances. La Meri was a teacher, a poet, and a scholar too. She lived from May 13, 1898, to January 7, 1988.

Early Life and Dance Training

La Meri was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Her birth name was Russell Meriwether Hughes. She started learning dance in Texas. There she studied ballet, Spanish, and Mexican dance styles. Later, she trained in Hawaii. She learned Hawaiian dance there. She also studied modern dance and ballet in New York.

La Meri's Dance Career

La Meri began performing professionally in 1928. In the 1930s, she invited Indian classical dancer Ram Gopal to tour with her. He was one of the first people to bring Indian dance to the Western world.

Traveling the World for Dance

Until 1940, La Meri traveled and studied all over the world. She visited places like Central and South America, Europe, and North Africa. She also went to Australia, New Zealand, and many parts of Asia. These included India, Burma, Indonesia, China, and Japan. As she traveled, La Meri learned the local dances. She studied with expert dance masters in each area. She then created her own dances. These new dances used the steps and movements she had learned. She researched dance styles from Latin America, Spain, Africa, and Asia. This helped her make her performances feel very real. She showed the true roots of each dance style.

Founding Dance Schools and Companies

In 1940, La Meri and Ruth St. Denis started the "School of Natya." This school in New York City taught Hindu dance. Through this school, La Meri formed her first dance group. It was called The Five Natyas. In 1945, the School of Natya became part of the Ethnologic Dance Center. This center and its dance theater operated from 1942 to 1956. La Meri also performed at the American Museum of Natural History. She presented shows featuring young ethnic dancers from around the globe. In 1944, she even choreographed Swan Lake. She changed the ballet's movements into Hindu dance. She kept the original music and story. But she added a new beginning and a danced fight scene.

Teaching and Writing About Dance

La Meri taught regularly at Jacob’s Pillow. She also gave many talks and demonstrations. She wrote several magazine articles and books. Her books include The Gesture Language of Hindu Dance (1941) and Spanish Dancing (1948). Her book on Spanish dancing is considered a very important text. La Meri's wide work in ethnic dance made her a top expert. She inspired other choreographers to respect dances from different cultures. She also helped educate audiences about these dances. Her detailed research showed the true spirit of each culture. She highlighted the importance of honesty in the dance world.

La Meri's Poetry

In 1938, La Meri published a book of poetry called "Songs and Voyages." This book is now very rare. Her poems had appeared in many magazines. These included American Poetry Magazine and The Dance Magazine.

Awards and Recognition

La Meri received the Capezio Dance Award in 1972. This award honors important people in the dance world.