March 16
Born Today:
Mary Hinkson
Multi-talented dancer Mary Hinkson (1925-2014) excelled at both ballet and modern dance, even though she did not begin formal dance training until college. She performed with Martha Graham (1894-1991) in the 1950s through the early 1970s, for ballet choreographer John Butler (1918-1993) in his works with the New York Metropolitan Opera, including Bluebeard’s Castle and Carmina Burana, and for modern/ballet choreographer Glen Tetley (1926-2007). Hinkson and her close friend Matt Turney (1925-2009) experienced many firsts in their careers, they were the first black students to attend the University of Wisconsin dance program and the first black dancers to perform with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Hinkson performed lead roles in pieces Graham handed down including Cave of the Heart (1946) and Clytemnestra (1958) and briefly co-directed the company, along with dancer Bertram Ross (1920-2003) in the early 1970s. Hinkson retired from dancing in 1973.
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Broadway Premiere: 1776 in 1969
Movie: Golddiggers of 1935