NAME: Wilson, John

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
c. 1928

DEATH DATE/LOCATION:
24 February 1992, New York City, age 64

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John Wilson in Poe Pourri.
Photo: courtesy Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.

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  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
    		•
  • other relevant information
  • overview of works
  • bibliography
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    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    John Wilson was an original member of both the Joffrey and Harkness Ballets. He was also a modern dancer, singer, teacher, musical director, and choreographer. Wilson performed with Joyce Trisler's company and was associated with Dance Theatre Workshop in the 1960s. In addition, he was a music teacher at Juilliard and an acting instructor at Boston University. He was artistic director of his own company, DADAnewyorknewyork DADAnynyDADA.

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    Survived by his sister, Diane Wilson (unable to locate), and his daughter.

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    None identified.

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library holds the following documentation:

    A Celebration in Memory of the Life and Work of John W. Wilson (1992)—memorial service for John W. Wilson, a dancer, choreographer, composer, and performer of Dada theater; videotaped at Dance Theatre Workshop's Bessie Schonberg Theater, New York, on 17 May and highlighting choreography by John Wilson; two 3/4 in. videocassettes (111 min.); call number MGZIC 9-6075.

    Ecossaises; [and] A Palindrome (1980)—compilation video including choreography of Ecossaises by John Wilson; videotaped in performance at the American Theater Laboratory, New York City, as part of Dance Theatre Workshop's Winter Events series on 22 February; one 3/4 in. videocassette (43 min.); call number MGZIC 7-877.

    Lenore Latimer/John Wilson (1978)—compilation video including choreography by John Wilson; videotaped in performance at the American Theatre Laboratory, New York, on 24 November; two 3/4 in videocassettes (80 min.); call number MGZIC 9-3455.

    Lenore Latimer and John Wilson (1980)—compilation video including choreography by John Wilson; videotaped in performance at the American Theater Laboratory, New York, N.Y., as part of Dance Theatre Workshop's Winter Events series on 22 February by Michael Schwartz; one 3/4 in. videocassette (52 min.); call number MGZIC 7-875.

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    At the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library:

    Wilson, John W. /[Photographs]; call number MGZEA.

    MOVEMENT NOTATION
    (location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
    None identified.

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    None identified.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    None identified.

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library maintains a clippings file for "Wilson, John W.," call number MGZR.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    Search for executor.

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    Deborah Jowitt's Dance Magazine obituary (see below) credits Wilson's Diary of a Fly as a "classic among comedic solos."

    PARTIAL LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):
    Not available.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Bowers, Theresa. 1978. "New Orleans and New York: Delta Festival Ballet (Theatre of the Performing Arts, Nov. 11-12, 1978); Lenore Latimer and John Wilson (ATL, New York, Nov. 26); Pooh Kaye (The Kitchen, Nov. 28); Dances/Janet Soares (ATL, Dec. 7)." Dance Magazine. New York (March): 46, 94-97.
    • Cohen, Selma Jeanne. 1960. "John Wilson and Company; 92nd Street "Y," May 14, 1960." Dance Magazine. New York (July): 26.
    • Dance/USA Journal. 1992. "Obituaries: John Wilson" (summer): 27.
    • Jowitt, Deborah. 1992. "Obituaries: John Wilson." Dance Magazine (30 June): 30.
    • Hering, Doris. 1961. "Joyce Trisler and Company, with John Wilson and James Truitte; 92nd Street "Y," January 21, 1961." Dance Magazine (March): 65.
    • ________. 1961. "John Wilson and Company; Gerald Arpino and Company. 92nd Street "Y," May 18, 1961." Dance Magazine (August): 19-20, illus.
    • ________. 1962. "Dances by Deborah Jowitt and John Wilson; 92nd Street "Y," New York City, January 7, 1962." Dance Magazine (March): 28.
    • Manchester, P. W. (Phyllis Winifred). 1960. "Joyce Trisler and Company, with John Wilson." Dance News (April): 7.
    • ________. 1964. "Dancers' Studio; in Works by Valerie Bettis, Joyce Trisler, John Wilson." Dance News (June): 13.
    • Renouf, Renee. 1979. "John Wilson and Lenore Latimer, American Theater Lab, N. Y. C., November 24-26, 1978." Dance News (January): 11.
    • Rudko, Doris. 1961. "John Wilson, Gerald Arpino and Companies." Dance Observer (Aug-Sept): 104.
         		 
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