Leni Wylliams facts for kids

Leni Wylliams (born Leonard Morrell Williams, January 15, 1961 – September 13, 1996) was a talented African-American dancer and choreographer. He was known for his powerful and expressive dance style, and he helped create many beautiful performances.

Early Life and Dance Beginnings

Leonard Morrell Williams was born in Denver, Colorado, on January 15, 1961. He later became known as Leni Wylliams. He finished high school in 1979 at Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver). Leni started learning dance as a teenager at the Cleo Parker Robinson school in Denver. He soon joined her dance company, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.

A Career in Dance

In 1982, Leni moved to New York City. He was invited by Eleo Pomare to join the Eleo Pomare Dance Company. Pomare trusted Leni so much that he taught him all the dance solos he had created for himself.

Leni also danced with many other famous dance groups. These included the José Limón Dance Company, Pina Bausch's company, and Netherlands Danse Theatre. He also performed with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company.

Choreography and Teaching

Leni Wylliams created dances for ballet and modern dance companies worldwide. Some of his well-known dances include Ascension, Baharini, and Sweet In The Morning. He taught dance in many countries, like Russia and Germany, and all over the United States. He was also a visiting professor of dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Leni worked in Boston. He was the artistic director for the Danny Sloan Dance Company for a time. He also started his own group, Wyll Danse Theatre. Leni helped choreograph for Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston. He even worked on a show at the famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Leni was an assistant choreographer for Martin. This was a ballet tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. It premiered in Washington, D.C., in 1989. He also helped Carmen de Lavallade choreograph the Metropolitan Opera’s 1990 show of Porgy and Bess.

Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre

Leni met Mary Pat Henry at a dance festival in Canada. They realized they shared similar ideas about dance. In 1991, they founded the Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre (WHDT). They both served as co-artistic directors.

In 1992, Leni created his most famous solo dance, Sweet In The Morning. He worked with Heather White on this piece. The dance featured vocals by Bobby McFerrin.

SWEET IN THE MORNING danced by Leni Wylliams - May 1994

Leni performed Sweet In The Morning at the 1996 National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA. This performance was even shown in a TV documentary about the festival.

Legacy and Impact

Leni Wylliams passed away on September 13, 1996. His passing was a great loss to the dance world.

Praise for Leni Wylliams

Many people praised Leni's dancing and teaching. Mary Pat Henry said he had "one of the most articulate bodies." This meant you could see every muscle and movement as he danced. A reviewer from Kansas City Star said he danced with "the quality of radium" and moved with "power and fine-tuned precision."

The famous dancer Katherine Dunham once told Leni, "you are pure poetry," after seeing him perform. His performance as "Profit Jones" in Eleo Pomare’s Radiance of the Dark was called "show stopping" by The New York Times.

Gordon Parks, who created the ballet Martin, said Leni helped him through one of his most challenging projects. When Leni created dances, he seemed to have a special connection to inspiration. Ideas for beautiful ballets would pour out of him quickly.

As a teacher, Leni inspired dancers to believe in themselves. He helped them think that anything was possible. Dancers loved and trusted him. If a class was struggling, Leni would sing Summertime and tell them to start moving to the music.

Tributes and Awards

Several awards have been created in Leni Wylliams' honor:

• The Leni Wylliams Award is given by Cleo Robinson Dance in Denver. It celebrates achievements in choreography and innovation.
• The Summertime Award is presented by the Coquitlam District Music Festival in Canada. It's a special trophy given with a small scholarship. It honors Leni's ability to inspire young dancers.

Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company

The dance company that Leni Wylliams and Mary Pat Henry built changed dance in the Midwest. Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre is now known as Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. It continues to perform a wide range of dances. The company is known for its beautiful, athletic style. It presents powerful and uplifting works from a rich collection of American modern dance. The company's performances include their own dances and works by famous choreographers from around the world.