Valerie Bettis
Encyclopedia
Valerie Elizabeth Bettis (December 1919 – 26 September 1982) was an American modern dance
r and choreographer
. She found success in musical theatre
, ballet
, and as a solo dancer.
. Her parents were Royal Holt Bettis and Valerie Elizabeth Bettis (McCarthy). Her father died when she was thirteen years old, after which her mother married Hugh Prather. In 1943, Bettis married Bernardo Segall, who was then her company's music director
, though the marriage ended in divorce in 1955. In 1959, she married Arthur A. Schmidt who died in 1969. On 26 September 1982, Bettis died at Beth Israel Medical Center
in Manhattan
at the age of 62.
r and as a choreographer, often both in the same production. She was known for her "versatility, vivid stage presence, and flamboyant theatricality."
lessons in her hometown of Houston, Texas
at the age of 10. While in high school
, she participated in her school's dramas and musicals. She attended the University of Texas for only one year before moving to New York City
to study modern dance under Hanya Holm
. She performed and toured with Holm's company from 1937 through 1940.
In 1941, Bettis formed her own dance ensemble and began her career as a solo dancer. She found early success with her 1943 solo dance The Desperate Heart, which incorporated the poem of the same name by John Malcolm Brinnin
. New York Times dance critic John Martin
listed it among the most outstanding performances of 1943. Louis Horst
described The Desperate Heart as "the finest solo work in the entire modern dance repertory of this decade."
. Her production of Virginia Sampler, as performed by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
, was called "an interesting and unsuccessful experiment." Bettis made several attempts to unite ballet with the spoken word, though she found little success here. Domino Furioso, which premiered the 1949 American Dance Festival
, attracted mixed reviews: "attractive" and "easy to take in", but "If Miss Bettis is not careful she will talk us all to death." Bettis found success in 1952 when she choreographed a ballet based on the Tennessee Williams
play A Streetcar Named Desire
. Critics described it as "gripping" and a "stunning, explosive creation."
for her performance in Inside U.S.A.
, a revue
that would run for nearly 400 performances at the New Century Theatre
and the Majestic Theatre. Her performance in the 1950 revue Bless You All was praised by Life magazine both for her dancing and for her singing abilities.
), as well as the "Dance Of The Seven Veils" (in the 1953 movie Salome
) were choreographed by Valerie Bettis.
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
r and choreographer
Dance composition
The term dance composition is used to describe the practice and teaching of choreography and the navigation or connection of choreographic structures....
. She found success in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, and as a solo dancer.
Biography
Valerie Bettis was born on either 19 December or 20 December 1919 in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Her parents were Royal Holt Bettis and Valerie Elizabeth Bettis (McCarthy). Her father died when she was thirteen years old, after which her mother married Hugh Prather. In 1943, Bettis married Bernardo Segall, who was then her company's music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, though the marriage ended in divorce in 1955. In 1959, she married Arthur A. Schmidt who died in 1969. On 26 September 1982, Bettis died at Beth Israel Medical Center
Beth Israel Medical Center
Beth Israel Medical Center is a 1,368-bed, full-service tertiary teaching hospital in New York City. Originally dedicated to serving immigrant Jews living in the tenement slums of the Lower East Side, it was founded at the turn of the 20th century. The main hospital location is the Petrie...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
at the age of 62.
Career
Valerie Bettis found success both as a modern danceModern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
r and as a choreographer, often both in the same production. She was known for her "versatility, vivid stage presence, and flamboyant theatricality."
Early career
Bettis began taking balletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
lessons in her hometown of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
at the age of 10. While in high school
Secondary education in the United States
In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with...
, she participated in her school's dramas and musicals. She attended the University of Texas for only one year before moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to study modern dance under Hanya Holm
Hanya Holm
Hanya Holm is known as one of the “Big Four” founders of American modern dance...
. She performed and toured with Holm's company from 1937 through 1940.
In 1941, Bettis formed her own dance ensemble and began her career as a solo dancer. She found early success with her 1943 solo dance The Desperate Heart, which incorporated the poem of the same name by John Malcolm Brinnin
John Malcolm Brinnin
John Malcolm Brinnin was an American poet and literary critic. Brinnin was born in Halifax Nova Scotia to two United States citizens....
. New York Times dance critic John Martin
John Martin (dance critic)
John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
listed it among the most outstanding performances of 1943. Louis Horst
Louis Horst
Louis Horst was a choreographer, composer, and pianist...
described The Desperate Heart as "the finest solo work in the entire modern dance repertory of this decade."
Ballet
In 1947, Bettis became the first modern dance choreographer to work with a major ballet companyBallet company
A ballet company is a group of dancers who perform ballet, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round basis, except in the United States, where contracts for part of the year are the norm...
. Her production of Virginia Sampler, as performed by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was a ballet company created by members of the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo in 1938 after Léonide Massine and René Blum had a falling-out with the co-founder Wassily de Basil...
, was called "an interesting and unsuccessful experiment." Bettis made several attempts to unite ballet with the spoken word, though she found little success here. Domino Furioso, which premiered the 1949 American Dance Festival
American Dance Festival
The American Dance Festival is a six and four-week school for dance and a six-week summer festival of modern dance performances, currently held at Duke University and the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina....
, attracted mixed reviews: "attractive" and "easy to take in", but "If Miss Bettis is not careful she will talk us all to death." Bettis found success in 1952 when she choreographed a ballet based on the Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
play A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire (play)
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was...
. Critics described it as "gripping" and a "stunning, explosive creation."
Musical theatre
Bettis first tried her hand at musical comedies when she choreographed and performed in Glad to See You in 1944. In 1948, she won a Theatre World AwardTheatre World Award
The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
for her performance in Inside U.S.A.
Inside U.S.A.
Inside U.S.A. was a musical revue by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz and was loosely based on the book Inside U.S.A. by John Gunther. Sketches were written by Arnold M. Auerbach, Moss Hart, and Arnold B...
, a revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
that would run for nearly 400 performances at the New Century Theatre
New Century Theatre
The New Century Theatre was a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 932 Seventh Avenue at West 58th Street in midtown Manhattan.The house, which seated 1700, was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts, who originally named it Jolson's 59th Street Theatre after Al Jolson, who...
and the Majestic Theatre. Her performance in the 1950 revue Bless You All was praised by Life magazine both for her dancing and for her singing abilities.
Movies
Rita Hayworth's dances to the songs "Trinidad Lady" and "I've Been Kissed Before" (in the 1952 movie Affair in TrinidadAffair in Trinidad
Affair in Trinidad is a film produced by Hayworth's Beckworth Corporation, released by Columbia Pictures, and starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. It is notable as Hayworth's "comeback" film after four years away from Columbia, as a re-teaming of the Gilda co-stars, and for a fiery opening...
), as well as the "Dance Of The Seven Veils" (in the 1953 movie Salome
Salome (1953 film)
Salome is a Biblical epic film made in Technicolor by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by William Dieterle and produced by Buddy Adler from a screenplay by Harry Kleiner and Jesse Lasky Jr. The music score was by George Duning, the dance music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and the cinematography by...
) were choreographed by Valerie Bettis.