Ruth Pryor

Ruth Pryor (1906-2001) was a Chicago ballet dancer and instructor, and the first American ballerina to dance the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake, in 1930.[1] She was known for "her feat of whirling thirty-six times a minute on her toes," according to the Purple Parrot of Northwestern University.[2]

Ruth Pryor
Born
Ruth Pryor Swanson

(1906-06-21)June 21, 1906
Chicago
DiedMay 31, 2001(2001-05-31) (aged 94)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
SpouseKent Buckingham
Career
DancesFirst American ballerina to dance as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake

Dance career

Like many ballet dancers, Pryor began her career while she was a child, and appeared in her first show “Blossoms” at the age of 14. Pryor continued her career as a vaudeville performer, appearing with Beatrice Gardel in “Dances Here and There.” During the 1920s, Pryor danced as a soloist for the Chicago Civic Opera Company and Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet Company and School,[3] participating in some of the successful productions of Swan Lake and Aida.[4] Pryor spent the 1930s in touring companies, and performed with the Merhoff Quartet in the 1940s.[5] She corresponded with dance critic Ann Barzel.[6]

She founded the Ballet Russe Academy in 1950,[1] and the Ballet Theater Dance School in Cleveland, Ohio, which she ran for 25 years. Canadian dancer John Begg began teaching for Ruth Pryor in 1959.[7] She also helped found ballet companies in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio.

She continued to have a successful career into the 1970s. In 1972, Dennis Nahat and former Pryor student, Ernie (Ian) Horvath purchased her one-room studio in the sub basement of the Masonic Temple in downtown Cleveland. The new school was named Cleveland Dance Center, soon to become the official School of the new Cleveland Ballet.

Her students included Dick Blake,[8] Joyce B. Kneuss,[9] Cheryl Rauschenberger,[10] Ian Horvath,[11] and Denise Gula.[12]

Pryor died in 2001, at age 94.[13]

References
  1. "Ruth Pryor memorabilia , 1923-1964". ArchiveGrid. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  2. "The Purple Parrot (Classic Reprint)". Northwestern University. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  3. "A gelatin silver print showing ballet dancer Andreas Pavley ..." Paul Frecker London - Nineteenth Century Photography. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  4. Moore, Edward C (1930). Forty years of opera in Chicago. New York: Horace Liveright. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  5. "C 1940 Poster Vocal Dance Merhoff Quartet Ballet Singer". eBay. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  6. "Inventory of the Ann Barzel Papers". Newberry.org. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  7. Diehl, Judith; Diehl, Karipides (1997-07-11). "Kathryn". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  8. Price, Kyla. "Dick Blake's annual Etiquette and Society Dancing class returns to Chagrin Falls Middle School". Sun News, cleveland.com. March 10, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-25.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. Segall, Grant (2012-04-30). "Joyce B. Kneuss started Brunswick Cultural and Performing Arts". Plain Dealer, cleveland.com. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  10. "Staff - Cheryl Rauschenberger". A2D by Kristen - All About Dance! by Kristen. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  11. "Dennis Nahat/Ian Horvath". Cleveland Arts Prize for Dance 1981. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  12. "Staff". The Dancer's Studio at Oberlin. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  13. "Swanson - Ruth Pryor Swanson". Albuquerque Journal Obituaries. 2001-06-03. Retrieved 2014-10-25.


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