Kaylee Holley DAN 302
About Glen Tetley: Glen Tetley, whose birth name was Glenford Andrew Tetley, Jr., was an American dancer born on February 3, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio. Tetley went to medical school at Franklin and Marshall College, and discovered his passion for dance throughout his time there. After he graduated medical school in 1946, he pursued dance at New York University and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School. He was trained by some of the best teachers, such as Martha Graham and Antony Tudor, in modern and ballet technique, and later went on to begin his dance career. His first performance opportunity was in Hanya Holm’s Broadway production of “Kiss Me, Kate” in 1948 followed by “Juno” ten years later, and eventually a movie called “I am a Dancer.” Tetley also danced with the Martha Graham Company, New York City Opera Ballet, John Butler’s American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and Jerome Robinson’s Ballet: USA. Another big accomplishment was becoming an original member of the Joffrey Ballet.
After his performance career came to an end, he began choreographing himself. Because of his strong mix of modern and ballet training, his choreography ended up being a clear mix of the two, creating a new way of looking at dance. He’s best known for his piece “Pierrot Lunaire,” which was performed as his choreographic premier in 1962. Throughout his choreographic career, Tetley created over fifty “ballets” for multiple dance companies, including his own. He eventually moved to Europe in 1969 because he felt like there was more artistic freedom. He ended up taking the job of Artistic Director at the Netherlands Dance Theatre and the Stuttgart Ballet. He worked and danced for a while until moving back to North America to work for the National Ballet of Canada. After a long, fulfilling dance career, Glen Tetley died on January 26, 2007 in West Palm Beach, Florida due to skin cancer. My Inspiration: Glen Tetley inspired me and challenged me to become confident in whatever style I love, and to go at life full force. He did what he wanted to do and made life worth living. I was astounded at his determination and his passion, and I hope to make myself known in a similar way that he did. What I’ve gained the most out of this research is the inspiration to create what I want to create and be proud of it.
Glen Tetley
“Pierrot Lunaire” This is Rudolph Nureyev performing Tetley’s “Pierrot Lunaire.” Click the link below to watch!
“Pierrot Lunaire” was Glen Tetley’s most famous ballet and his first ballet. The premier date was May 5, 1962, performed by Tetley’s own chamber company at the New York School of Fashion Design. The music is Arnold Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’ Song Cycle, Opus 21, 1912.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ykNVFkhIEY
Tetley choreographed this piece based off Arnold Schoenberg’s music, “Pierrot Lunaire.” It was about the interaction of three commedia dell’arte characters, which refers to Italian comedians or Italian theater. This was his first choreographic work and is known as his best because it premiered his insane mix of ballet and modern dance, coming off as almost contemporary. It’s been said that Tetley enjoyed using movement to convey themes of theater, literature, or music…hence “Pierrot Lunaire.” He used a lot of creative staging, involving intricate sets. This piece is a great example because Tetley used something like a scaffolding as a prop for his dancers. Although he didn’t like to create abstract pieces, he was known for choreographing continuous, intense, and physical movement. He was universally talked about for his productivity as a choreographer and the passion in his work. His style always impressed the audience, and that’s something every choreographer aims for.
Tetley is most known for his mix of modern and ballet dance. Nadine Meisner reviewed Glen Tetley’s work in an article on The Independent news page. She said that medicine’s loss was dance’s gain. She referred to him as an “innovative choreographer” and an “international celebrity.” His work, “Pierrot Lunaire” came to be his signature piece and was the epitome of his striking style. Meisner said that Tetley loved legs and feet elongated like in ballet. She also said he loved an arched torso like one you would see in a Graham piece. Those things put together, along with the balance of tension and release, was a perfect description of Tetley as a dancer and a choreographer. He not only created and established his own dance company, but he helped define the style and direction of many dance companies around the world. His newfound movement in “Pierrot Lunaire” changed everything. All dancers and choreographers are creating and dancing new, inventive styles these days and it’s normal. Gracia Haby, with The Shock of the New Magazine, said that in Tetley’s days, he had to undergo wild criticism and hate for his fusion. Everyone disapproved of him for going out of the normal and traditional, but that didn’t stop him from continuing with his work. Meisner and Haby have Tetley saying, “I have always existed in both worlds, and never felt them to be anything but one world.” He believed in his work and his duality, and he stood by it in everything he did until he died.