Valerie Bettis

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Valerie Bettis
choreographer
  • actress
    • Years active1949–1961
    Spouses

    Valerie Elizabeth Bettis (December 1919 – September 26, 1982) was an American

    choreographer. She found success in musical theatre, ballet
    and as a solo dancer.

    Biography

    Valerie Bettis was born in 1919 on either December 19

    Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan at the age of 62.[4]

    Career

    Bettis found success both as a modern dancer and as a choreographer, often both in the same production. She was known for her "versatility, vivid stage presence, and flamboyant theatricality".[4]

    Early career

    Bettis began taking ballet lessons in Houston at the age of 10. While in

    University of Texas for only one year, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta,[5] before moving to New York City to study modern dance under Hanya Holm. She performed and toured with Holm's company from 1937 tto 1940.[1][2]

    In 1941, Bettis formed her own dance ensemble and began her career as a solo dancer. She found early success with her 1943 solo dance The Desperate Heart, which incorporated the poem of the same name by John Malcolm Brinnin. The New York Times' dance critic, John Martin, listed it among the most outstanding performances of 1943. Louis Horst described The Desperate Heart as "the finest solo work in the entire modern dance repertory of this decade".[6]

    Ballet

    In 1947, Bettis choreographed with a major

    A Streetcar Named Desire. Critics described it as "gripping" and a "stunning, explosive creation".[10]

    Musical theatre

    Bettis first tried her hand at

    Life magazine both for her dancing and for her singing abilities.[13]

    Movies

    Rita Hayworth's dances to the songs "Trinidad Lady" and "I've Been Kissed Before" in the 1952 movie Affair in Trinidad, as well as the "Dance of the Seven Veils" in the 1953 movie Salome, were choreographed by Valerie Bettis.[citation needed]

    Year Title Role Notes
    1952 Affair in Trinidad Veronica Huebling
    1953 Let's Do It Again Lilly Adair

    Selected choreography

    • The Desperate Heart (1943)
    • Yerma (1946)
    • Virginia Sampler (1947)
    • As I Lay Dying (1948)
    • Domino Furioso (1949)
    • The Golden Round (1955)
    • The Past Perfect Hero (1958)
    • Closed Door (1959)
    • Early Voyagers (1960)
    • Songs and Processions (1964)
    • Echoes of Spoon River (1976)

    References

    1. ^ a b c Brandenstein, Sherilyn (May 30, 2010). "Bettis, Valerie Elizabeth". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
    2. ^ a b c d e "Guide to the Valerie Bettis Papers, ca. 1942-1982". Heritage Dance Coalition. March 17, 1983. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
    3. ^
      ISSN 0083-9833
      .
    4. ^ a b Anderson, Jack (September 28, 1982). "Valerie Bettis, Choreographer and Modern Dancer, is Dead". The New York Times. p. 12.
    5. ^ "Notable Thetas – Heritage". Kappa Alpha Theta. January 7, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
    6. ^ "Concert Program" (PDF). ICKL Proceedings 2001. International Council of Cinematography Laban: 247. 2001. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
    7. ISBN 978-1-4067-5380-6
      .
    8. JSTOR 4333127
      .(subscription required)
    9. ISBN 978-0-8223-0683-2
      – via Google Books.
    10. ISBN 978-0-521-62610-1
      – via Google Books.
    11. ^ "Theatre World Awards Recipients". Theatre World Awards. 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
    12. ^ ​Inside U.S.A.​ at the Internet Broadway Database
    13. ^ "Bless You All: The Ladies Cop the Honors in a New Revue". Life. Vol. 30, no. 4. January 22, 1951. p. 58 – via Google Books.

    External links


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