John Durang
Encyclopedia
John Durang was the first U.S.-born professional dancer of note, best known for his hornpipe dance
.
John Durang, the son of Jacob and Catherine Durang, was born on January 6, 1768, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, but grew up mostly in York, Pennsylvania
, where he was educated at the Christ Lutheran Church school. In 1784, he made his debut as a performer in Lewis Hallam
's "lecture" and patriotic extravaganza. Plays and dances were then legally banned, and the term lecture was used for such events. He went on to spend much of the rest of his life as a dancer, acrobat, actor, mime, rope dancer, and blackface
comic. He was a part of a group called Ricketts's Circus
, which traveled throughout the northeastern United States and into Canada.
He was reputedly George Washington
's favorite entertainer. The popular tune "Durang's Hornpipe", composed in 1785 by the German dwarf
Hoffmaster, was named for him.
Durang married Mary McEwen (d. 1812), also a dancer, with whom he had six children, including the actors Ferdinand
, Charles
, and Augustus Durang, and the dancers Charlotte and Juliet Durang.
Durang died March 31, 1822 in Philadelphia and was buried at St. Mary's Church.
Hornpipe
The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels...
.
John Durang, the son of Jacob and Catherine Durang, was born on January 6, 1768, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, but grew up mostly in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, where he was educated at the Christ Lutheran Church school. In 1784, he made his debut as a performer in Lewis Hallam
Lewis Hallam
Lewis Hallam was an English-born actor and theatre director in the colonial United States.-Career:He arrived in North America in 1752 with his theatrical company, which first performed in Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1752, Hallam built the first theater in New York City, New York, on Nassau Street...
's "lecture" and patriotic extravaganza. Plays and dances were then legally banned, and the term lecture was used for such events. He went on to spend much of the rest of his life as a dancer, acrobat, actor, mime, rope dancer, and blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
comic. He was a part of a group called Ricketts's Circus
John Bill Ricketts
John Bill Ricketts , an Englishman who brought the first modern circus to the United States, began his theatrical career with Hughes Royal Circus in London in the 1780s, and came over from England in 1792 to establish his first circus in Philadelphia.He built a circus building in Philadelphia in...
, which traveled throughout the northeastern United States and into Canada.
He was reputedly George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's favorite entertainer. The popular tune "Durang's Hornpipe", composed in 1785 by the German dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
Hoffmaster, was named for him.
Durang married Mary McEwen (d. 1812), also a dancer, with whom he had six children, including the actors Ferdinand
Ferdinand Durang
Ferdinand Durang was an American actor, best known as the first person to sing publicly Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner"....
, Charles
Charles Durang
Charles Durang was an American dancer.Charles Durang was born in Philadelphia in 1796, the son of John Durang, the first native-born American professional dancer. Charles made his first appearance in the Chestnut Street Theater at the age of 7 in 1803, and subsequently performed in almost every...
, and Augustus Durang, and the dancers Charlotte and Juliet Durang.
Durang died March 31, 1822 in Philadelphia and was buried at St. Mary's Church.
External links
- Genealogy of the Durang family
- Downer, Alan S., ed.; The Memoir of John Durang. Historical Society of York County/American Society for Theatre Research by University of Pittsburgh Press. 1966.
- General information about his life
- Historical marker near Durang's birthplace, placed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionPennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage...
- "Durang's Hornpipe" (MIDI file)