Daniel Nagrin
In a New York City apartment, a restless boy ignores his homework, and unknowingly moves to the entrancing beats of music that drift sinuously through the speakers of a large radio. He does not realize the meaning his motions hold, nor the impact they will have on a world still unaware of his existence.
It is 1925, and Daniel Nagrin is only 8-years-old. Yet, while the innocence of youth has not yet defined his life, he has just discovered his calling. Not a single person who knew him then could have predicted the life he would lead. Dancer, choreographer, performer and visionary of modern dance, Nagrin led a life that every young dancer dreams of, and few are fortunate to experience.
Born May 22, 1917 in New York City, Daniel Nagrin made his stylish introduction to the world of dance on the heels of other greats, such as Martha Graham. By the early 1930s, Nagrin had joined Graham’s fledgling studio where he continued taking classes. He also regularly attended class at the New Dance Group throughout his high school years.
While attending City College of New York, pursuing a bachelors of science in education, Nagrin modified his own class course schedule, involving dance at every available opportunity. His first job as a professional dancer was with the great Anna Sokolow. Soon after that, he was hired by Sue Ramos, who was the first to introduce him to jazz dance, and then to Helen Tamiris. In 1941, he was chosen to perform in a piece choreographed by Tamiris, the woman who later became his wife. Working with her on dances such as, “Strange Hero,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Plain and Fancy,” Nagrin quickly established himself as an incredibly talented and expressive solo artist. For the next decade, Nagrin, along with with the other memorable male dancers of his era such as Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, struggled to carve a place for strong male leads in the dance industry.
In 1955, Nagrin’s relentless dedication to dance and performance paid off when he was awarded the Donaldson Award for his work with Tamiris on “Plain and Fancy.” Following his success, Nagrin and Tamiris decided to take a break from Broadway performance, and form their own company. The result was the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company, formed in 1960. They performed together for six years, generating a modest-sized following. In 1966, Tamiris passed away, and Nagrin disbanded the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company.
In the midst of Nagrin’s increasingly successful career, America was in the throes of the controversy and protest surrounding the Vietnam War. Two years after the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company was dissolved, Nagrin choreographed and performed one of his most famous solos, “The Peloponnesian Wars,” an emotional, visual demonstration of the conflict between two powerful groups of people. In the few years following this, Nagrin created The Workgroup, a dance company that focused on the teaching, training and performing of improvisational jazz.
Nagrin never stopped performing, always taking opportunities to inspire the younger generations of dancers. In 1982, Nagrin joined Arizona State University in Tempe as a full-time member of the dance faculty. Over the next 15 years, he taught, inspired and motivated dancers from all over the world. Between the time he created the Workgroup until his death, Nagrin published five books, each geared towards the molding of young dancers into being extraordinary performers, actors and improvisationalists.
Daniel Nagrin brought an edgy quality to American dance. In turn, he was fiercely passionate, dedicated, amusing and thoughtful. His drive for connecting with every personality, emotion and character he represented on each stage, made him the unique dancer that changed dance in ways that will honor Daniel Nagrin’s legacy forever.