Arthur Mahoney

Arthur Mahoney (19 July 1904 — 3 August 1985), born in Boston, was a ballet, modern, jazz, flamenco, and 18th century court dancer.

Arthur Mahoney
Born(1904-07-19)July 19, 1904
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedAugust 3, 1985(1985-08-03) (aged 81)
Jackson, Mississippi
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)dancer, choreographer, educator
Known forchoreography and performances at Jacob's Pillow
SpouseThalia Mara (born Elizabeth Simons) (m. 1939)

Mahoney was inspired to become a ballet dancer upon seeing a magazine cover photo of Vaslav Nijinsky in the role of "Le Spectre de la rose." He then moved to New York in 1923 to study ballet with Luigi Alberteri, ballet master at the Metropolitan Opera, where he received his first professional engagement that lasted three seasons. He made his debut as soloist in 1926, in “La Vestale” by Gaspare Spontini.[1]

Paris 1928–29, Mahoney studied with Bronislava Nijinska and joined Ida Rubenstein's Ballet company. At this time he met his future wife Thalia Mara, who was studying ballet with Olga Preobrajenska and Nikolai Legat.[2]

In 1935, Mahoney joined the faculty of the Juilliard School as its Dance Director and choreographer.

In 1944, Mahoney and Thalia Mara, founded and became artistic directors of the School of Dance Arts located in the Carnegie Hall Studios.

With Thalia Mara in "Court Dances," Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1941
With Thalia Mara in "Flamenco," 1938
With Thalia Mara in "Jazz," Jacob's Pillow, 1947

In 1947, Mahoney and Thalia Mara became managing directors at Jacob’s Pillow during Ted Shawn's leave of absence. They created a resident dance company, “Ballet Repertory” with a group of approximately 18 dancers of equal status.[3][4][5] Having lost their studio at Carnegie Hall that year, they moved it to 117 West 54th Street. Mahoney gave dance and movement coaching sessions to singers from the Metropolitan Opera, notably Lily Pons and Risë Stevens. Mahoney moved to California c1963.

In 1978, after 15 years of separation, Mahoney joined Mara in Jackson, Mississippi, where she was Director of "The Jackson Ballet." Mahoney became teacher and coach of the company's male dancers.

Performances (selection)
1926 Metropolitan Opera: Debut dancing in “La Vestale” by Gaspare Spontini[1]
1927 Philadelphia Academy of Music: repeat of “La Vestale”[6]
Jolson Theatre: Mahoney performed with the Adolph Bolm Co. in “The Rivals, A Chinese Legend”[7]
1928 Opera de Paris: Mahoney performs in the premier of "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel
1929 Paramount Theater (Gaumont-Opéra cinema), Paris: Mahoney performed in Roger Pryor Dodge's burlesque skit “Lilies of the Field” presented as “Roger Dodge et Ses Cinq Vagabonds,” to "Marche slave" by Tchaikovsky[8]
Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires): Mahoney and Thalia Mara perform with Opera Rusa, a touring company originated in Paris as Opéra Privé de Paris under Michel Fokine
1930-1 Chanin’s 46th Street Theatre: Mahoney performed in Roger Pryor Dodge’s Trio with Jack Nile, in Billy Rose’s review “Sweet and Low,” to Duke Ellington’s “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo,” accompanied by cornetist James "Bubber" Miley
1931 Gluck Sandor Studio: Mahoney performed in Mura Dehn’s dance concert with Dodge, accompanied by “Bubber” Miley
Roxy Theater: multiple appearances with Dodge Trio in "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," "Black & White Review," and "Manhattan Serenade"
1932 Roxy Theatre: Dodge Trio in "Manhattan Serenade"
Radio City Music Hall: Inaugural program; "Hymn to the Sun," from "Le Coq d'Or" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff
1934 Lewisohn Stadium: Mahoney and Rita De Leporte perform in "Carmen" (Georges Bizet)[9]
The Juilliard School of Music: Mahoney performed in George Antheil’s opera "Helen Retires." This success led Juilliard to immediately hire Mahoney in 1935 as teacher and dance director[10][11][12]
1936 Juillard: Mahoney was the choreographer and lead dancer in the ballet-pantomime, "Joseph and his Brethren" by Werner Josten[13][14][15][16][17]
92nd Street Y: First National Dance Congress Festival, “The outstanding item from the standpoint of audience approval was Mr. Mahoney’s excellently danced farruca in the manner of Escudero….Mr. Mahoney’s revivals of a sarabande and an allemande in the authentic style were also among the evenings’s best numbers”[18]
Lewisohn Stadium: Mahoney and Mara perform in "Carmen" (Bizet)
1937 Guild Theater: Program includes "Gaillarde Tambourin," "Roi Soleil," "Allemande," "Musette," "Sevillanas," Alegrias," "Farruca," and "Bulerias"[19][20]
1939 Lewisohn Stadium: Mahoney and Mara perform in "Carmen" (Bizet)
1941 Brooklyn Academy of Music: “Court Dances” 18th century court dances to George Frideric Handel ("Alcina" Suite) and Luigi Boccherini with Thalia Mara. A "Serénade Espagnole" (pasodoble) by Bizet[21]
Brooklyn Academy of Music: "Spanish Folk Fiesta," music by Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, with Thalia Mara. Mahoney dances a farruca, ensemble dances sevillanas[22]
1942 Jacob's Pillow: “Eighteenth Century Court Dances” with Thalia Mara (Handel and Henry Purcell), solo dance of Apollo from "Le Roi Soleil" (Jean-Baptiste Lully). Closing with a duo, a 19th Century "Bolero"[23]
1943 Jacob's Pillow: with Thalia Mara, dancing "Serenata Español" (Georges Bizet), "Blue Fantasy" (Ernesto Lecuona), "Jota Argonese" (de Falla)
Jacob's Pillow: with Thalia Mara, "Bolero," "Cordoba" (Albéniz), "Blues in the Night" (Harold Arlen)
1944 Jacob's Pillow: "Iberian Rhythms" (solo), with Thalia Mara— "Echos of Harlem," "Jota Argonese" (de Falla)
Jacob's Pillow: with Thalia Mara—"Gonna See My Gal" a Strut (Leigh Harline),[24] "Cordoba" (Albénez), "Gigue-Diane Chasseresse" (Bach), "Rigaudon-Impromptu" (François Couperin), "La Valse Viennoise" (Johann Strauss)
Jacob's Pillow: "Crosstown" ballet in one act, story and choreography by Mahoney, music by Tom Scott; story of boxer Slugger Joe, with Mahoney, Mara and company; "Bolero"; "La Valse Viennoise" (Strauss)
Jacob's Pillow: "Blues in the Night" (Arlen), "Seville Comes to Harlem" (Lecuona)
1945 New York City Center: dance recital with Thalia Mara[25]
Lewisohn Stadium: Mahoney and Mara perform in "Carmen" (Bizet), choreography by Mahoney[26]
1947 Jacob's Pillow: "Crosstown" ballet in one act, story and choreography by Mahoney, music by Tom Scott; story of boxer Slugger Joe, with Mahoney, Mara and company; "Ballads from the Blue Ridge" (Tom Scott), staged by Mahoney, with Mahoney, Mara and company
Jacob's Pillow: with Thalia Mara, "Serenade Espagnole" (Bizet), "Jota Aragonese" (de Falla), solo: "Iberian Rhythms"[27]
Jacob's Pillow: "Parnassus" ballet in one act (Handel), choreography by Mahoney, Mahoney, Mara, and company
Jacob's Pillow: "La Notche [sic] Clara" (Bright Night)—Ballet by Mahoney, music by Albéniz, with Mahoney, Mara, and company; "Parnassus." “1st season as directors of festival and school...Mahoney’s knowledge of the Spanish dance is extensive”[28]

References
  1. "BiblioTech PRO V3.2b". archives.metoperafamily.org. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. "Arthur Mahoney tells of his fantastic career;NEWLN:From boxer, ballplayer, cowboy to world of glittering ballet".
  3. Martin, John. The Dance: summer Casts Shadows Before, New Directors for Jacob’s Pillow. The New York Times (19 January 1947)
  4. Ballet: Jacob's Pillow. Life Magazine (11 August 1947):63-66
  5. News from America. The Ballet (UK) (March 1947)
  6. "Opera in Philadelphia · Performance Chronology ... - Frank Hamilton". www.yumpu.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  7. Dance Index vol 7, nos. 4, 5. 1948 Dance Index-Ballet Caravan, Inc. p. 108
  8. Au Paramount. Paris:Comœdia (13 January 1929):6
  9. academicworks.cuny.edu https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3282&context=gc_etds. Retrieved August 9, 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. Dancer’s Almanac and Who’s Who 1940, ed. Ruth Eleanor Howard (New York, 1940):70
  11. Helen Retires. The Cincinnati Enquirer (2 September 1934):37
  12. Garafola, Lynn. George Antheil and the Dance. Ballet Review (Fall 2001)
  13. Joseph and His Brethren Juilliard School[…]choreographie d’Arthur Mahoney. Paris:Le Ménestrel—Musique et Théatres. (3 April 1936):115
  14. Joseph Arnold, Kay. Joseph and His Brethren. The American Dancer (May 1936)
  15. Big Audiences for N.Y., Chicago, Philly Recitals. The Billboard (28 March 1936):4
  16. Juilliard to Give Ravel Opera and Josten Ballet. Brooklyn Daily Eagle (9 February 1936):42
  17. Downes, Olin. Josten’s Ballet Offered Uptown:Juilliard School theatre Scene of ‘Joseph and His Brethren,’ Given by Students. The New York Times (10 March 1936):26 Retrieved August 1, 2020
  18. Martin, John. First Congress of Dancers Opens. The New York Times (19 May):27
  19. Miss Mara and Mahoney Give Program of Dances. New York Herald Tribune (29 November 1937):8
  20. The American Dancer—cover photo (April 1938)
  21. "Shelby White & Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive : Promotional : New York Philharmonic - Symphony Chamber Orchestra [1941.02910]". levyarchive.bam.org. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  22. "Shelby White & Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive : Promotional : Spanish Folk Fiesta [1941.00313]". levyarchive.bam.org. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  23. "Jacobs Pillow Archive : Person : Arthur Mahoney". archives.jacobspillow.org. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  24. Dance Magazine—cover photo (January 1944)
  25. Martin, John. Dance Team Seen in Mixed Program; Arthur Mahoney and Thalia Mara Score at City Center in Miscellany of Styles. The New York Times (12 February 1945)
  26. ““Carmen” Pulls ‘Em at Stadium.” The Billboard (21 July 1945):3
  27. Martin, John. The Dance: Events. The New York Times (13 July):52
  28. Martin, John. The Dance:Jacob’s Pillow. The New York Times (7 September):2
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