Philip Grausman (born 1935)
Bronze, 1969, NPG.75.31
National Portrait Gallery,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Gift of an anonymous donor
By World War II, American dance had evolved in several directions. However, the spirit of the early modern dance pioneers lived on in the work of José Limón, whom many consider the greatest performer in the history of modern dance. Limón was born in Mexico, in the state of Sinaloa. His family, displaced by the Mexican Revolution, moved to the United States when he was seven years old. As a young man, Limón enrolled in art school in New York but later dropped out, complaining that he was not free to develop his own style. After going to a dance concert with some friends, Limón felt that he had finally found his calling, and he immediately began to study dance with Charles Weidman and Doris Humphrey. From 1930 to 1940, Limón danced with their company in concert works and Broadway shows, beginning with Irving Berlin's As Thousands Cheer in 1932. During those years he also began to choreograph his own works. Many of Limón's dances, such as Danzas Mexicanas (1939), had Mexican or Spanish themes. After serving in World War II, Limón formed his own company and enjoyed great success both in the United States and abroad. Today he is remembered for his commanding stage presence and for the seemingly effortless use of his body to communicate subtle ideas and emotions.
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