Litz, Katherine, -1978

Variant names

Hide Profile

Katherine Litz, modern dancer, teacher and choreographer, was born on July 26 1912 in Denver, Colorado. She studied dance with Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. She performed with the Humphrey-Weidman Concert Company and with Agnes DeMille. During the 1940s she danced in Broadway musicals and choreographed a section of "Ballet Ballads." Litz worked with Al Carmines on several productions at Judson Memorial Church in New York, and presented programs of her own works in New York and around the country. Over a period of many years she taught and lectured at colleges and universities including Bennington College, Black Mountain College, and Columbia University. In 1947, Litz married the American artist and set designer Charles Oscar, from whom she later separated. Katherine Litz died in New York City on December 19, 1978, three weeks after her last performance.

From the description of Papers, 1927-1982. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 612197061

Katherine Litz was an American choreographer.

From the description of Katherine Litz collection, ca. 1945-1952. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122414697

Katherine Litz, a modern dancer, teacher and choreographer, was born on July 26, 1912 in Denver, Colorado. While in high school she studied dance with Martha Wilcox at the Perry Mansfield Camp. Upon graduation, she left Denver to pursue her career as a dancer.

In New York Litz studied dance with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. She also studied composition, ballet, music, acting, and voice. Outside of New York she took courses with Hanya Holm and Martha Graham. Litz performed with the Humphrey-Weidman Concert Company and with Agnes DeMille's concert company. During the 1940s she danced in the Broadway musicals "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel," and she also choreographed and danced the leading role in "Susanna and the Elders," a section of Ballet Ballads. In 1960 she had an acting-dancing role in The Crystal Heart, an off-Broadway musical. She worked with Al Carmines on several productions at Judson Memorial Church in New York. Beginning with a concert in 1948, Litz presented programs of her own works, both solos and for groups, in New York and around the country. She was known for her use of satire and humor in dances such as "The Glyph," created with Lou Harrison and first performed at Black Mountain College in 1951. Over the course of many years Litz taught and lectured at colleges and universities, including Bennington College, Columbia University, and Black Mountain College.

During her career, Litz was the recipient of grants from several organizations, including the Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Lena Robbins Foundation.

In 1947, Litz married the American artist and set designer Charles Oscar. They eventually separated. Katherine Litz died in New York City on December 19, 1978, three weeks after her last performance.

From the guide to the Katherine Litz collection, ca. 1945-1952, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Katherine Litz, a modern dancer, teacher and choreographer, was born July 26, 1912 in Colorado and died in New York City on December 19, 1978.

Litz moved to New York to study with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. She also studied composition, ballet, music, acting and voice. She danced with the Humphrey-Weidman company and with Agnes De Mille's concert company. During the 1940's she danced in the Broadway musicals Oklahoma! and Carousel, and she also choreographed and danced the leading role in “Susanna and the Elders,” a section of Ballet Ballads. In 1960 she had an acting-dancing role in The Crystal Heart, an off-Broadway musical. She worked with Al Carmines on several productions at Judson Church. Beginning with a concert in 1948, Litz presented programs of her own works, both solos and for groups, in New York and around the country. She was known for her use of satire and humor in dances such as “The Glyph.” She also taught and lectured at colleges and universities over a period of many years.

During her career, Litz was the recipient of grants from several organizations, including the Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Lena Robbins Foundation.

In 1947, Litz married the American artist and set designer Charles Oscar, from whom she later separated.

From the guide to the Katherine Litz papers, 1901-1979, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. Letters to Doris Humphrey, 1935-1944. (5 items). New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. Papers, 1927-1982. Houghton Library
referencedIn Katherine Litz and Company. [Programs, announcements, etc.] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Katherine Litz collection, ca. 1945-1952 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. [Programs] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. [Programs] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Katherine Litz papers, 1901-1979 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003. [Ballets. Selections] / Lou Harrison. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Litz, Katherine. Katherine Litz collection, ca. 1945-1952. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Katherine Litz collection, [ca. 1948-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. Papers, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Litz, Katherine, d. 1978. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn King, Bruce, 1925-1993,. Interview with Bruce King. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Erlanger, Margaret, 1908-1975. Papers, 1908-1974. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agnes De Mille person
associatedWith American Music Collection corporateBody
associatedWith Banks, Dick person
associatedWith Banks, Dick. person
associatedWith Bauer, Marion, 1882-1955 person
associatedWith Bauer, Marion, 1887-1955. person
associatedWith Bergersen, Louis Baldwin, 1914- person
associatedWith Bergerson, Baldwin. person
associatedWith Bruce King Dance Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Carmines, Al. person
associatedWith Charles Oscar person
associatedWith Charles Weidman person
correspondedWith Erlanger, Margaret, 1908-1975. person
associatedWith Feldman, Morton, 1926-1987. person
associatedWith George person
associatedWith Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003. person
associatedWith Horst, Louis person
associatedWith Horst, Louis. person
associatedWith Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958. person
associatedWith Humphrey-Weidman Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Humphrey-Weidman Studio. corporateBody
associatedWith John Martin person
associatedWith Katherine Litz and Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Katherine Litz and Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Katherine Litz and Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Katy Litz Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith King, Bruce. person
associatedWith King, Bruce, 1925-1993, person
associatedWith Kleiner, Arthur. person
associatedWith Litz's person
associatedWith Nicolait, Eugene. person
associatedWith Oscar, Charles. person
associatedWith Paludan, Marsha. person
associatedWith Paul Taylor person
associatedWith Richter, Marga person
associatedWith Richter, Marga. person
associatedWith Ted Shawn person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Ballet
Choreography
Dance
Manuscripts
Occupation
Choreographer
Activity

Person

Death 1978

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vd814z

Ark ID: w6vd814z

SNAC ID: 34250522