Liz Williamson papers, 1937-1990

Links

• View catalog record
• View PDF finding aid (215.43 KB)

Creator

Williamson, Liz.

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division

Extent

• 18.47 linear feet (26 boxes)

Scope/Contents Note

The Liz Williamson papers contain clippings, correspondence, publicity and advertising materials, noteson choreography, photographs, and reference materials related to her years as a professional dancer and dance teacher. Much of this collection pertains to her professional engagements as teacher or lecturer on jazz dance. These materials help show the spread of interest injazz dance and jazz teaching and Williamson's role in promoting jazz dance. Of particular interest are the filesof choreographic notation she created for teaching and presenting jazz dance to her students and the files of professional engagements which show Williamson's influenceon the field of jazz in particular and dance in general. Also of interest are Williamson's scrapbooks, which detailher evolution from student to professional dancer to professional dance instructor. The collection contains little material of a personal nature.

Biographical/Historical Note

Professional dancer and dance teacher, Liz Williamson (1919-1996) was well respected for her many years as a dance educator, as well as her efforts to promote jazz dance. Born in North Carolina, she attended Radcliffe College as an undergraduate. She also received a graduate degree in dance from New York University. Williamson (her married name) later studied various dance forms, includingmodern, with Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm, Martha Hill, Huapala, and Martha Graham, but her mentor in jazz dance was Luigi. As a dancer, she performed in musical revivals at the New York City Center during the 1950s, as well as in summer stock and television. Williamson also had a successful career as a solo dancer and a nightclub cabaretact. In 1958, she performed Blues Suite as a member of Alvin Ailey's first dance company. Williamson performed under several names, including: Elizabeth Williamson, Elizabeth Williams, Liz Williamson, and Liz Williams. In 1959, she joined the faculty of the Dalton School, where she remained into the 1970s. From the 1960s until her death, Williamson taught the methods and theory of jazz dance to dance students and dance teachers at classes and at festivals in the United States and in several foreign countries. Numerous students learned her methods of "HappyDancing!" She also served as judge at several competitionsand received many awards and honors from various dance organizations. In 1973, she became the first artist-in-residence at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, where she taught students jazz and choreographed The Many Faces of Jazz for 65 dancers. In 1979, she choreographed Shindig: The Sounds of the '60s on Stage for Downstairs at City Center. Williamson also wrote several articles on the history of jazz for Dance Magazine, as well as moderated or appeared on several panels on dance history and choreography.

Controlled Access Terms

• Williamson, Liz.
• Dance teachers -- United States -- 20th century.
• Jazz dance.
• Women dancers -- United States -- 20th century.
• Clippings.
• Correspondence.
• Lecture notes.
• Photographs.
• Scrapbooks.
• Dance teachers.
• Dancers.

Additional Creator Names

• Ailey, Alvin.
• Dalton School (New York, N.Y.)