[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF CHARLES WEIDMAN DANCE CONSORT: MEZZACAPPA-GABRIAN AND 
                       YOUNG DANCERS IN REPERTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2001

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to celebrate the Centenary 
of Charles Weidman (1901-1975), American modern dance pioneer, this 
year. Mr. Weidman, along with Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Hanya Holm 
and Lester Horton, forges a new art form which was truly American.
  Mr. Weidman, who was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 22, 1901, was 
the foremost male dancer of his era. In 1928, Mr. Weidman and his 
partner, Doris Humphrey established a company and school devoted to 
exploring a new aestethic. During his time, Mr. Weidman gave important 
encouragement to male dancers, developing a system of exercises for 
them which endowed the Humphrey-Weidman Company with a stimulating 
virility. In 1933 he choreographed Candide, the first full length 
modern dance work. In addition, his invention of kinetic pantomime, a 
non-representational pantomime, was yet another of his major 
contributions to the dance world. Mr. Weidman and Miss Humphrey were 
the first American modern dance choreographers to compose dances for 
Broadway shows. In addition, Weidman was the first choreographer for 
the New York City Opera. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. 
Weidman's versatility as a choreographer lead him to create dramatic, 
lyric, abstract, historic, and comic works, as well as works for 
Broadway shows, revues, and operas. His large body of work reflects his 
serious humanistic concerns, hit wit, and his clarity as a 
choreographer. Throughout his career, Mr. Weidman trained and 
influenced many dancers through the Humphrey-Weidman Company and as a 
Master Teacher on his own, including: Gene Kelly, Alvin Ailey, Jose 
Limon, Bob Fosse, Charles Morre, and Jack Cole. Mr. Weidman not only 
had a profound influence upon the development of American modern dance, 
but was also influential in the rise of American jazz dance.
  The arts have always been a factor in the developing of a great 
society, and both performance and visual arts have played a crucial 
role in the development of this great nation. I wish to personally 
thank Dance Consort: Mezzacappa-Gabrian and youth organization Young 
Dancers in Repertory. I also would like to thank them and wish them the 
best of luck as they go abroad to represent us in Italy during the 
Dance Grand Prix Italia 2001.

                          ____________________