Walter Nicks
Encyclopedia
Walter Nicks was an African-American modern dancer, choreographer, and teacher of jazz
and modern dance
. He was a certified master teacher of Katherine Dunham
technique. He was professionally active for nearly 60 years.
, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio
, where he graduated from Central High School. From 1942-1944 he attended Howard University
. His early dance training took place at Cleveland's Karamu Settlement House
.
He studied dance at the Katherine Dunham School
in New York (1945), whose teachers included Dunham, Lavinia Williams
, Talley Beatty
, Tommy Gomez, Archie Savage and Marie Bryant. He also studied with José Limón
, Robert Joffrey
, Karel Shook, Louis Horst
and Doris Humphrey
.
Dunham awarded him (1947) a fellowship to study for a Master Teaching Certificate in Dunham Technique, which he received in 1948.
In 1947 Nicks was appointed Assistant Director of Dance at the Dunham School, a position which he held until 1953.
In 1948-49 he danced in the Benny Goodman
Jazz Review on a 13-month tour.
Nicks left the Dunham School in 1953. Forming a small company, "El Ballet Negro de Walter Nicks," in Mexico, he performed at the Insurgentes Theatre in Mexico City
in a production starring Cantinflas
; at the Sans Souci in Havana; on television in the Dominican Republic
, and at the Condado Beach Hotel in San Juan
. Also during this period, he spent five months in Haiti
observing Vodou dances.
Upon his return to New York, he became an instructor with the Phillips-Fort Studio (1954–55). In 1954 he performed with Joe Nash and others in Donald McKayle’s “Games” at the 92nd Street Y
.
Nicks died 3 April 2007 in Brooklyn
, New York.
Nicks introduced jazz dance
instruction to Europe at the International Academy of Dance in Krefeld, Germany (1959).
In Sweden
, under the auspices of Lia Schubert, Nicks became a consultant at the University of Stockholm (1960–67), a guest instructor at the Swedish Ballet Academy (1960), and performed there with his small company (1961–65). He appeared several times on Swedish television in the 1960s; of particular importance was the series “Introduction to Jazz Ballet” with Schubert (1966). He was professor and Director of Jazz Dance at Stockholm’s Statens Dansskola (1967–1971). He choreographed the Swedish production of West Side Story (1968). He danced in a 1969 concert of Duke Ellington’s sacred music
with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at Gustav Vasa Church in Stockholm
, which was broadcast on Swedish television.
As a consultant to the government of Guinea
in 1963, Nicks studied traditional dances and formulated recommendations which resulted in the formation of Le Ballet National Djoliba by President Sékou Touré.
In the Summer of 1972, at the request of the French Federation of Dance, Nicks founded the Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop. Under the auspices of the Federation, the company toured France
and Belgium
, and later performed in the French Caribbean
.
Nicks taught at international dance workshops and festivals in Germany
, France
, Israel
, Spain
, Italy
, Finland
, and East Berlin
.
For several years he taught at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen-Werden
, Germany.
Meanwhile, Nicks continued to be professionally active in the United States
. The Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop was affiliated with the Connecticut College
American Dance Festival for several years beginning in 1973. It was community oriented, and concert performances were accompanied by workshops, lecture demonstrations and dance instruction.
The Nicks company participated in the National Endowment for the Arts
’s “Artists-in-the-Schools” program for nine years (1973–1981).
Nicks was co-founder and Artistic Director of Centre Formation Professionelle in Poitiers
, France (1982–1992).
He choreographed “Spirit Blues” for the National Ballet of Finland, which premiered on 19 October 1989 at the Finnish National Opera
.
The Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop was based since its inception at the Church of the Intercession in Manhattan
, where Nicks performed with his dancers in the Palm Sunday
pageant
through 2002.
Nicks was a faculty member/resident artist at Connecticut College (American Dance Festival), University of Maryland
, Bard College
, Duke University
(1991), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(1992–94).
Nicks was on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and on the Advisory Board of the Black Arts Network Diaspora. He was a recipient of The Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching from the American Dance Festival.
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
and modern dance
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:...
. He was a certified master teacher of Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, and activist...
technique. He was professionally active for nearly 60 years.
Biography
Nicks was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, where he graduated from Central High School. From 1942-1944 he attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. His early dance training took place at Cleveland's Karamu Settlement House
Karamu House
Karamu House in the Fairfax neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, is the oldest African-American theater in the United States. Many of Langston Hughes's plays were developed and premièred at the theater.-History:...
.
He studied dance at the Katherine Dunham School
Katherine Dunham Company
The Katherine Dunham Company, a troupe of dancers, singers, actors and musicians, was the first African American modern dance company. It descended from Ballet Negre, a student troupe founded by Katherine Dunham, which later became the Negro Dance Troupe.The company had successful runs on Broadway...
in New York (1945), whose teachers included Dunham, Lavinia Williams
Lavinia Williams
Lavinia Williams , who sometimes went by the married name Lavinia Williams Yarborough, was an African-American dancer and dance educator who founded national schools of dance in several Caribbean countries.-Biography:...
, Talley Beatty
Talley Beatty
Talley Beatty was born in Cedar Grove, Louisiana, a section of Shreveport, but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He is considered one of the greatest of African American choreographers, and also bears the titles dancer, educator, and dance company director...
, Tommy Gomez, Archie Savage and Marie Bryant. He also studied with José Limón
José Limón
José Arcadio Limón was a pioneer in the field of modern dance and choreography. In 1928, at age 20, he moved to New York City where he studied under Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. In 1946, Limón founded the José Limón Dance Company...
, Robert Joffrey
Robert Joffrey
Robert Joffrey was an American dancer, teacher, producer and choreographer, known for his highly imaginative modern ballets...
, Karel Shook, Louis Horst
Louis Horst
Louis Horst was a choreographer, composer, and pianist...
and Doris Humphrey
Doris Humphrey
Doris Batcheller Humphrey was a dancer and choreographer of the early twentieth century. Humphrey was born in Oak Park, Illinois but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of Horace Buckingham Humphrey and Julia Ellen Wells and was a descendant of pilgrim William Brewster...
.
Dunham awarded him (1947) a fellowship to study for a Master Teaching Certificate in Dunham Technique, which he received in 1948.
In 1947 Nicks was appointed Assistant Director of Dance at the Dunham School, a position which he held until 1953.
In 1948-49 he danced in the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
Jazz Review on a 13-month tour.
Nicks left the Dunham School in 1953. Forming a small company, "El Ballet Negro de Walter Nicks," in Mexico, he performed at the Insurgentes Theatre in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in a production starring Cantinflas
Cantinflas
Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes , was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter known professionally as Cantinflas. He often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin...
; at the Sans Souci in Havana; on television in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and at the Condado Beach Hotel in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Also during this period, he spent five months in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
observing Vodou dances.
Upon his return to New York, he became an instructor with the Phillips-Fort Studio (1954–55). In 1954 he performed with Joe Nash and others in Donald McKayle’s “Games” at the 92nd Street Y
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
.
Nicks died 3 April 2007 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York.
Achievements
Nicks is noted for:- Dancer in My Darlin' Aida, 1952
- Dancer and Assistant Choreographer for House of Flowers in Philadelphia and on BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
(working under choreographers George BalanchineGeorge BalanchineGeorge Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
and Herbert RossHerbert RossHerbert Ross was an American film director, producer, choreographer and actor.-Early life and career:Born Herbert David Ross in Brooklyn, New York, he made his stage debut as Third Witch with a touring company of Macbeth in 1942...
), 1954-55. He coached Arthur MitchellArthur Mitchell (dancer)Arthur Mitchell is an African-American dancer and choreographer who created a training school and the first African-American classical ballet company, Dance Theatre of Harlem...
, Geoffrey HolderGeoffrey HolderGeoffrey Richard Holder is a Trinidadian actor, choreographer, director, dancer, painter, costume designer, singer and voice-over artist.-Early life:...
, Carmen De LavalladeCarmen De LavalladeCarmen De Lavallade is a dancer, choreographer, professor and stage and film actress.-Early Years:Carmen De Lavallade was born in Los Angeles on March 6, 1931, to Afro-Creole parents from New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by her aunt who owned one of the first African American history...
, Dolores Harper, Louis Johnson, Donald McKayleDonald McKayleDonald McKayle is an African American modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, director and writer best known for creating socially conscious concert works during the 1950s and 60s that focus on expressing the human condition and more specifically, the black experience in America...
, Albert Popwell and Glory Van Scott and others. - Assistant Choreographer for Jamaica under Jack Cole, working with Alvin AileyAlvin AileyAlvin Ailey, Jr. was an American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Ailey is credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance...
and Christyne Lawson, 1957–59 - Assistant Choreographer for Carmen JonesCarmen JonesCarmen Jones is a 1943 Broadway musical starring Muriel Smith in the title role, later made into a 1954 musical film; the play also ran for a season in 1991 at London's Old Vic and most recently in London's Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre in 2007. It is an updating of the Georges Bizet...
under Oona White at City Center Theatre - John Hay Whitney Fellowship to study cultural dances in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(1956–1957) - Choreorographer for Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
(1959–1963); he choreographed Belafonte specials on CBS-TVCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
: “Tonight with Belafonte” (1959) which won Belafonte an Emmy, “New York 19” (1960), “Look Up and Live.” and several Belafonte stage productions that toured the country, including “Sing, Man, Sing” (1956), with dancers Alvin Ailey and Mary Hinkson, and “Belafonte ‘63”.
Nicks introduced jazz dance
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
instruction to Europe at the International Academy of Dance in Krefeld, Germany (1959).
In Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, under the auspices of Lia Schubert, Nicks became a consultant at the University of Stockholm (1960–67), a guest instructor at the Swedish Ballet Academy (1960), and performed there with his small company (1961–65). He appeared several times on Swedish television in the 1960s; of particular importance was the series “Introduction to Jazz Ballet” with Schubert (1966). He was professor and Director of Jazz Dance at Stockholm’s Statens Dansskola (1967–1971). He choreographed the Swedish production of West Side Story (1968). He danced in a 1969 concert of Duke Ellington’s sacred music
Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts
In the last decade of his life, Duke Ellington wrote three Sacred Concerts:* 1965 - A Concert of Sacred Music* 1968 - Second Sacred Concert* 1973 - Third Sacred Concert...
with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at Gustav Vasa Church in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, which was broadcast on Swedish television.
As a consultant to the government of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
in 1963, Nicks studied traditional dances and formulated recommendations which resulted in the formation of Le Ballet National Djoliba by President Sékou Touré.
In the Summer of 1972, at the request of the French Federation of Dance, Nicks founded the Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop. Under the auspices of the Federation, the company toured France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and later performed in the French Caribbean
French Caribbean
The term French Caribbean varies in meaning with its usage and frame of reference. This ambiguity makes it very different from the term French West Indies, which refers to the specific, formal French possessions in the Caribbean region...
.
Nicks taught at international dance workshops and festivals in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
.
For several years he taught at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen-Werden
Essen-Werden
Werden is a borough of the city of Essen in Germany. It belongs to the city district IX Werden/Kettwig/Bredeney and has 9,998 inhabitants as of June 30, 2006. The borough occupies a space of 4.04 km² and is situated at a median height of 58 metres above sea level.- History :The history of Werden...
, Germany.
Meanwhile, Nicks continued to be professionally active in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop was affiliated with the Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
American Dance Festival for several years beginning in 1973. It was community oriented, and concert performances were accompanied by workshops, lecture demonstrations and dance instruction.
The Nicks company participated in the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
’s “Artists-in-the-Schools” program for nine years (1973–1981).
Nicks was co-founder and Artistic Director of Centre Formation Professionelle in Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, France (1982–1992).
He choreographed “Spirit Blues” for the National Ballet of Finland, which premiered on 19 October 1989 at the Finnish National Opera
Finnish National Opera
The Finnish National Opera in Helsinki is the leading opera company in Finland. Its home base is the Opera House on Töölönlahti bay in Töölö which opened in 1993, and is state-owned through Senate Properties...
.
The Walter Nicks Dance Theatre Workshop was based since its inception at the Church of the Intercession 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...
, where Nicks performed with his dancers in the Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
pageant
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
through 2002.
Nicks was a faculty member/resident artist at Connecticut College (American Dance Festival), University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
, Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(1991), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
(1992–94).
Recent work
- Choreographed “Trance Atlantic” for Philadanco (2000)
- Taught at Howard University
- Taught and performed at the Katherine Dunham celebration at Jacobs Pillow in 2002
- Served on the faculty of the New York City Board of Education’s Dance Institute (Summer, 2002)
Nicks was on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and on the Advisory Board of the Black Arts Network Diaspora. He was a recipient of The Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching from the American Dance Festival.