Lester Horton
"Lester Horton Technique, Intermediate Level" is excellently produced videotape about a modern dance choreographer and creator of a singular methodology, who has been too long overlooked, Lester Horton. He was one of the great contributors to American modern dance on the West Coast.
Indianapolis-born Horton (1906-1953) studied with ballet master Adolph Bolm but was greatly influenced by Japanese-born dancer and choreographer Michio Ito, who taught in Los Angeles. Horton had moved to California in 1928, where he staged festivals, performed and created his company, the Lester Horton Dancers, in 1934, for which he choreographed extensively and appeared in regular seasons on the West Coast, occasionally in New York and at Jacob's pillow. His students included Alvin Ailey, Bella Lewitzky, Joyce Trisler, James Truitte, Janet Collins and Carmen de Lavallade. His extraordinary talents included being a one-man producer of his unique theater, formed in 1948 in Los Angeles.
This video, under the direction of artistic directors Ana Marie Forsythe (who has chaired the Horton technique department at the Alvin Ailey American since 1979) and former Horton dancer and teacher, Marjorie B. Farces gives a revealing glimpse into the expanse and depth of the technique. As a follow-up to the first video, "Lester Horton Technique-The Warm-up," this mesmerizing tape of his intermediate level, gives exercises from his Prelude Studies, Fortification Studies, Hinge, Falls and Balance studies and ends with his Percussive Stroke study. It contains remarkable demonstrations of one-leg balances and hinges. Horton's signature "Egyptian" right-angle, front-held arms with overall little emphasis on floor work is all there as the tape contains a wealth of exercises for any serious dancer to explore - ballet dancers included.
Although this is not a video to begin the study of Horton technique, cross training in different methodologies is an invaluable addition to all training. Brava, Horton specialists.
The video is available from Kultur, 195 Highway 36, West Long Branch, New Jersey, 07764. •