Lester Horton
1906 - 1953
Lester HortonHorton was born on the 23 January 1906. From a young age hotrod had an interest in american indian native arts. As a child Horton lived in Indiana. He moved to California in 1920. Horton lived and worked in LA for the rest of his life until his death in 1953. Horton died when he was 46, on the 2nd of November, 1953 in LA due to an alcohol addiction and poor health which caused a heart attack.
When Horton was a teen he trained at the Theo Hewes dance studio. After a year of training he was made a teacher at the studio. In 1925 Horton was scouted by Forest Thornburg which helped him get an audition for the Denishawn Dance Company. Horton successfully made it in the company and toured for months with them. After his tour with Denishawn he returned home in 1926 with Clara Bates as a dance partner. Horton developed a multi race company. Horton collaborated with Bella Lewizki who was a lead dancer at his dance studio and in 1942 he choreographed dances for films in hollywood. Horton created the Horton technique.The technique varies because Horton died in the middle of documenting his technique. It involves 1 or 2 movement and there contrast. Horton’s technique is an anatomical way to do static, ballistic, PNF and AIS stretching. You use your whole body; flexablity and body awareness. The technique is still used now, 40 years after it was first created. Horton’s best works were The Song of Hiawatha (1926), Prelude to Military (1937), Kootenai War Dance (1931), Voodoo Ceremony (1932), Dictator (1935), The Rirt of Spring (1937), and Major Highlight. In major highlight the audience was very shocked to see the dancers barefooted. |