Bella Lewitzky, 88, the legendary choreographer who fought
censorship in the
arts, died July 16 at an assisted care home in Pasadena, Calif.,
after a stroke.
Ms. Lewitzky, a star dancer in her youth, established herself as
a pioneer in the field of modern dance as artistic director and
choreographer of the internationally renowned Lewitzky Dance
Company, which she founded in 1966.
Her dance career was launched with the influential West Coast
choreographer Lester Horton, who was also a mentor of Alvin Ailey
and Carmen de Lavallade. She became Horton's colleague and founded
with him the Dance Theater of Los Angeles in 1946, one of the few
institutions in the United States to house both a dance school and
theater under the same roof.
In 1966 she formed the Lewitzky Dance Company, for which she
continues to create dances. Under her artistic guidance, the company
has become one of the leading international modern dance companies,
performing to critical acclaim in 43 states across the U.S. as well
as 20 countries on five continents.
The originality, humanity and unconventional qualities for which
Lewitzky's dances are famous have often found their way into the
management of her company. At a time when it is fashionable for
dance companies to be based in New York -- and dangerous not to be
-- she has kept her company operating out of her native Los Angeles
for thirty years.
It also led to a controversial
episode in 1990, when she crossed out the anti-obscenity clause on the
acceptance form of a $72,000 NEA grant.
She eventually had to sue NEA-chairman John E.
Frohnmayer to have the grant reinstated. The New York
Times quoted her as saying in response, "I've been struggling in
dance for 28 years. To exist merely to exist is stupidity. To exist
to make art is a pretty grand act."
She guided the Los Angeles-based company for more than 30 seasons
before retiring in 1997.
That year, President Bill Clinton presented her with the National
Medal of the Arts for her contributions to the growth and support of
the arts.
Her support came in the form of political
activism. In the 1950s, she refused to
answer questions about possible communist activities in the art
world when she was subpoenaed to testify before
Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy's House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Although she no longer performs, her creative energy
continues unabated,
with each year seeing the creation of at least one eagerly awaited
new dance. She has not stopped caring about her art form, a fact
borne out by the numerous awards she has received for service to
dance and the advisory and honorary positions she holds on boards
and councils of prestigious arts institutions across the nation.
In 1991, she successfully challenged the National Endowment for
the Arts to remove an anti-obscenity clause from its grants
applications.
Bella Lewitzky is Los Angeles's own gifted artist, extraordinary
educator, caring, humanitarian and champion of freedom of
expression.
"Art teaches how to dream, to fantasize and to imagine," Ms.
Lewitzky said in one of the lectures she regularly gave. "Without
this capacity, we have little ability to progress."
note:
choreographer:舞蹈设计者
censorship:审查制度
stroke:中风
episode:一段情节,趣事
cross out:删去,注销
anti-obscenity clause:反色情的法律条款
NEA:全国教育协会(美)
reinstate:恢复
activism:行动主义,激进主义
subpoena:传呼,索取
unabated:不衰退的
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