Intensity, Fire, and Excitement
©Arizona Ballet Theatre 2007|All Rights Reserved
Norman Walker's Modern Dance Class at Arizona Ballet Theatre
Norman Walker's Rehearsal Feb 19th, 2008,
IMG_1047_3
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Norman Walker - Professional Dancer, Director, & Choreographer - Photo Gallery
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A great moment during Mister Norman's rehearsal, with his class on Feb 19th, 2008
This shot captures the intensity, fire, and excitement of a rehearsal of Choreographer and Modern Dance Great, Norman Walker, and his current crop of Arizona Ballet Theatre dancers in Tucson, Arizona.
Norman
Walker, a native New Yorker, retired to Tucson in May 2004, and,
happily is teaching and choreographing for the most advanced dancers at
Arizona Ballet Theatre. For years, Norman Walker was a dancer with the May O'Donnell Dance Company in New York City.
It was an enviable position. O'Donnell, a leader in early modern dance, had been a student of the influential Hanya Holm and later danced with Martha Graham and José Limón. In 1949, Holm started her own company, where Walker rose from beginner to principal dancer. It was a glorious period for Modern Dance.
Mister Walker then performed with and choreographed for
numerous companies in diverse styles.
He devoted a full decade to his own company, Norman Walker and
Dancers. This led to the long association with the legendary dance
establishment in the Bershires of Massachusetts, Jacob's Pillow. Norman Walker and Dancers performed at Jacobs Pillow through most of the 60s and early 70s along with many of the other ballet and modern dance greats. (Careful search of Jacob's Pillow archives reveals Norman Walker and Dancers performed at Jacob's Pillow during the years 1961, '62,'63, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69 and '71.) From 1975 through 1979, he had a successful term as Director of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Program. Mr. Walker has choreographed over 210 pieces ranging from modern solos to full-length ballets for companies all over the world. While modern dance is his first love, Mr. Walker's interest is in good dance, in any form it may take.
Norman Walker, is a former Director of Theatre Arts, Adelphi University. Norman had started there as Director of the Dance Department, and was quickly appointed head of all the Theatre Arts Programs at Adelphi.
A Renaissance man, Mr. Walker continues to teach,
choreograph, perform character parts, and even design his own costumes
and sets. He has also directed plays and operas. We are thrilled that
he has become a major presence on our staff. His ballet and modern choreography for our performances, such as "Cinderella" in 2006, has been magnificent. Norman Walker's Modern Dance Classes at Arizona Ballet Theatre Studios are always met with great enthusiasm from our dancers. (They can often be seen practicing his choreography before ballet classes.) We look forward to seeing what he does next!
Mr Walker finds time to continue his association with
The Central Ballet of China - also known as The National Ballet of China - was on a 10-week tour of the United States. The review in the NY Times describes at some length the premiere of "Before the Wedding Chamber," a duet by "the American choreographer Norman Walker", as well as mentioning "New Year's Sacrifice," a dramatic work on a Chinese theme that the company presented in 1986."
Here we see The National Ballet of China performing Norman Walker's work... And, here they are featured in a
Intensity, Fire, and Excitement
©Arizona Ballet Theatre 2007|All Rights Reserved
Norman Walker's Modern Dance Class at Arizona Ballet Theatre
Norman Walker's Rehearsal Feb 19th, 2008,
IMG_1047_3
www.arizonaballettheatre.com/?q=node/992
Norman Walker - Professional Dancer, Director, & Choreographer - Photo Gallery
www.arizonaballettheatre.com/?q=image/tid/11
A great moment during Mister Norman's rehearsal, with his class on Feb 19th, 2008
This shot captures the intensity, fire, and excitement of a rehearsal of Choreographer and Modern Dance Great, Norman Walker, and his current crop of Arizona Ballet Theatre dancers in Tucson, Arizona.
Norman
Walker, a native New Yorker, retired to Tucson in May 2004, and,
happily is teaching and choreographing for the most advanced dancers at
Arizona Ballet Theatre. For years, Norman Walker was a dancer with the May O'Donnell Dance Company in New York City.
It was an enviable position. O'Donnell, a leader in early modern dance, had been a student of the influential Hanya Holm and later danced with Martha Graham and José Limón. In 1949, Holm started her own company, where Walker rose from beginner to principal dancer. It was a glorious period for Modern Dance.
Mister Walker then performed with and choreographed for
numerous companies in diverse styles.
He devoted a full decade to his own company, Norman Walker and
Dancers. This led to the long association with the legendary dance
establishment in the Bershires of Massachusetts, Jacob's Pillow. Norman Walker and Dancers performed at Jacobs Pillow through most of the 60s and early 70s along with many of the other ballet and modern dance greats. (Careful search of Jacob's Pillow archives reveals Norman Walker and Dancers performed at Jacob's Pillow during the years 1961, '62,'63, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69 and '71.) From 1975 through 1979, he had a successful term as Director of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Program. Mr. Walker has choreographed over 210 pieces ranging from modern solos to full-length ballets for companies all over the world. While modern dance is his first love, Mr. Walker's interest is in good dance, in any form it may take.
Norman Walker, is a former Director of Theatre Arts, Adelphi University. Norman had started there as Director of the Dance Department, and was quickly appointed head of all the Theatre Arts Programs at Adelphi.
A Renaissance man, Mr. Walker continues to teach,
choreograph, perform character parts, and even design his own costumes
and sets. He has also directed plays and operas. We are thrilled that
he has become a major presence on our staff. His ballet and modern choreography for our performances, such as "Cinderella" in 2006, has been magnificent. Norman Walker's Modern Dance Classes at Arizona Ballet Theatre Studios are always met with great enthusiasm from our dancers. (They can often be seen practicing his choreography before ballet classes.) We look forward to seeing what he does next!
Mr Walker finds time to continue his association with
The Central Ballet of China - also known as The National Ballet of China - was on a 10-week tour of the United States. The review in the NY Times describes at some length the premiere of "Before the Wedding Chamber," a duet by "the American choreographer Norman Walker", as well as mentioning "New Year's Sacrifice," a dramatic work on a Chinese theme that the company presented in 1986."
Here we see The National Ballet of China performing Norman Walker's work... And, here they are featured in a