de Lavallade, Carmen. (b. 1931). Signed Photograph.
Signed original photograph of the great American dancer in costume for an unidentified performance as part of her American Dance Quartet, with a stamp on the verso from The American Festival [Boston, 1960]. Lavallade has inscribed "To Paul / My very best wishes / and excuse my forgetfulness / Sincerely / Carmen de Lavallade." Corners worn with two small double staple holes upper left and right edges, else fine. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
The American actress, educator, choreographer, and dancer Carmen de Lavallade studied with Lester Horton, becoming lead dancer of Lester Horton Dance Theater (Los Angeles, California) during her tenure. She left for New York in 1954 with Alvin Ailey, whom she had met and encouraged to begin dancing in high school in Los Angeles. That same year, she made her Broadway debut partnered with Ailey in Truman Capote’s musical, House of Flowers. In 1962, de Lavallade and Ailey embarked on a tour of Southeast Asia as the de Lavallade-Ailey dance company.
From the collection of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer with Gay Community News, Esplanade, Tommy’s Connection, The Mirror, Bay Windows and other publications.
de Lavallade, Carmen. (b. 1931). Signed Photograph.
Signed original photograph of the great American dancer in costume for an unidentified performance as part of her American Dance Quartet, with a stamp on the verso from The American Festival [Boston, 1960]. Lavallade has inscribed "To Paul / My very best wishes / and excuse my forgetfulness / Sincerely / Carmen de Lavallade." Corners worn with two small double staple holes upper left and right edges, else fine. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
The American actress, educator, choreographer, and dancer Carmen de Lavallade studied with Lester Horton, becoming lead dancer of Lester Horton Dance Theater (Los Angeles, California) during her tenure. She left for New York in 1954 with Alvin Ailey, whom she had met and encouraged to begin dancing in high school in Los Angeles. That same year, she made her Broadway debut partnered with Ailey in Truman Capote’s musical, House of Flowers. In 1962, de Lavallade and Ailey embarked on a tour of Southeast Asia as the de Lavallade-Ailey dance company.
From the collection of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer with Gay Community News, Esplanade, Tommy’s Connection, The Mirror, Bay Windows and other publications.