Maudelle Bass Weston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maudelle Bass Weston
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Portrait of Maudelle Bass Weston by Johan Hagemeyer, 1940
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Maudelle Bass
1908 Early County, Georgia, United States
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| Died | (aged 81) Plainfield, New Jersey, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Gray Conservatory of Music |
| Known for | Dance Performance art Modeling Photography |
Maudelle Bass Weston (1908 – June 11, 1989) was an amazing American dancer and model. She was also known simply as Maudelle. She became a very important person in the art world of Los Angeles during the 1900s.
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Who Was Maudelle Bass Weston?
Maudelle Bass Weston was born in Early County, Georgia. Her mother was from Georgia and her father was from South Carolina. Her father's family came from the Caribbean. This background helped shape her unique dance style. She was the youngest of ten children. Her parents, Brutus and Elizabeth Bass, were farmers.
Maudelle's Exciting Career
Dancing in Mexico
In the 1920s, when Maudelle was a teenager, she traveled through Mexico. There, a famous artist named Diego Rivera saw her. He was very impressed by her beauty. Rivera wanted her to model for his paintings.
Maudelle spent three years touring Central and South America. She danced with a group called Folklórico. Her dances were inspired by styles from Africa, Egypt, Cuba, Brazil, and America. She became very popular in Mexico City. The magazine Hoy wrote that Maudelle was a "high priestess of the dances." Another newspaper, Últimas Noticias, said she told stories with "rapture and passion."
Becoming a Star in Los Angeles
Around 1933, Maudelle Bass Weston moved to Los Angeles. She continued her dance training there. She studied at the John Gray's Conservatory of Music. She also learned ballet from Isobel Keith Morrison.
Maudelle was the first African American to study with Lester Horton. He was a very important modern dance teacher. In Los Angeles, she became a well-known model for art schools. She also modeled for famous artists like Diego Rivera, Johan Hagemeyer, and Edward Weston.
She kept touring and performing for many years. People all over the country knew her for her amazing shows. A famous dancer named La Meri said Maudelle was "an artist of rare and moving sincerity."
Maudelle Bass Weston was also the subject of a sculpture. The African-American artist Beulah Woodard created a work called Maudelle.
Later Life and Legacy
Maudelle Bass Weston passed away on June 11, 1989. She was 81 years old. She died in Plainfield, New Jersey. Her contributions to dance and art continue to inspire many.
See also
- List of dancers
- List of people from Georgia (U.S. state)
- List of people from Los Angeles
