Loading...
Creator
Pinska, Klarna
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 141
Physical description
3.5 linear feet (8 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Klarna Pinska Papers, (S) *MGZMD 141. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Klarna Pinska was a dancer, instructor and choreographer who studied under Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn at the Denishawn School in California and New York. She studied further under Charles Weidman and Doris Humphrey. Pinska was committed to teaching dance and movement and influenced a generation of young children though her instruction and productions. The Klarna Pinska Papers contain materials from most of her professional career, and focus on her time working as Ruth St. Denis’ assistant and her teachings in the 1960s and 1970s. The collection also contains correspondence and photographs providing insight into the life of 20th century modern dance. The music scores were used in Pinska’s works, teaching as well as her own career as a dancer. Some of the scores were property of the Denishawn School.

Biographical/historical information

Klarna Pinska was born in 1904, and moved to the United States as a young girl. She studied under Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn at the Denishawn School of Dance from 1920-1926 both in Los Angeles and New York. In the early 1930s, following some professional experiences in theater, Pinska went on to become head teacher at the Ruth St. Denis School of Dance in New York. Pinska’s position at the Ruth St. Denis School allowed her to put on performances featuring her own choreography and direction. During this period, Pinska assisted Ruth St. Denis with the choreography of a ballet, which premiered at Boston Symphony Hall, and additionally directed with Harry Losee and Lenore Shaffer a dance composition that premiered at Carnegie Hall. In 1940, Pinska and St. Denis directed a ballet that was featured at the New York World’s Fair. Pinska was also a student herself, and in the 1930’s studied under Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and Louie Horst as well as learning the Martha Graham Method with teachers Jane Dudley and Sophia Maslow.

In 1941, Klarna Pinska relocated to the west coast where she worked as a welder in the shipyards and taught dance and dance therapy to adults and children. Dance therapy interested Pinska so much that she worked for three years under the guidance of Dr. John Cowan, bone specialist and Dean of U.C. Medical School. Pinska demonstrated dance for doctors and attempted to use dance to help aid in the recovery of patients. She produced plays for and taught dance movements to the cast of the North Beach Players from 1941-1949. Pinska worked as a dance therapist at the U.C. Medical School throughout the 1950s and 60s. She also taught children’s classes at the Walter Beggerstaff Studio from 1960-1964. Pinska reunited with Ruth St. Denis and served as her assistant in from 1963-1966, scheduling performances and promoting events.

In the 1970s, Klarna Pinska gained recognition for reviving the spirit of Denishawn by conducting master classes, lectures and performances at college and universities. Pinska was awarded the title of dance historian by UCLA in 1975, and was honored by Abraham D. Beane, mayor of New York City for her contributions to modern dance and dance education. She choreographed and directed The Spirit of Denishawn in 1977, which was well received by the dance community. Pinska worked to set up performances with the American Dance Festival in 1980. Klarna Pinska died in 1994 in San Francisco.

Scope and arrangement

The Klarna Pinska Papers contain materials documenting her life in modern dance. Pinska attended the Denishawn School in her youth and remained affiliated with dance in the style of Ruth St. Denis into the 1980s. The collection’s correspondence is mostly of a professional nature. Teaching dance and movement was important to Pinska, and the collection contains notes from various phases of her teaching career. Pinska worked for Ruth St. Denis during the 1960s. Publicity and other professional papers of St. Denis are present in this collection, as well as correspondence between Pinska and other individuals working with St. Denis. The photographs capture Pinska at various points of her career from 1919 to 1982. The music scores are mostly printed and were used by Pinska for dance instruction. Some of the scores were used in classes taught by the Denishawn School.

The Klarna Pinska papers are arranged in seven series:

  • Series I: Correspondence
    1945 - 1986,
    1 box

    The correspondence is mainly professional and dates from the late 1960s to 1970s. Pinska’s professional engagements with universities and dance groups are documented in the correspondence. The personal correspondence includes short notes to and from Pinska. Much of the correspondence from the years 1962 to 1966 deals with Ruth St. Denis.

  • Series II: Biographical Papers and Journals
    1937 - 1985,
    11 folders

    The biographical papers contain materials covering Pinska’s personal life and career as a dancer and dance instructor. There are many versions of her resume and personal statements written at various points in her life for grant and job applications. The journals contain personal notes and writings.

  • Series III: Teaching Materials,
    1935 - 1981,
    10 folders

    The teaching materials contain notes on posture from the 1930s to Pinska’s teaching of dance and dance history at UCLA in the early 1980s. There is a notebook with choreographic notes on dances associated with Ruth St. Denis and the Denishawn School.

  • Series IV: Subject Files
    1931 - 1987,
    13 folders

    The subject files concern professional relationships with Ruth St. Denis, WPA Theater Projects of the 1930s and Charles Weidman. The programs in this series are of dance events from the 1960s through 1980s.

  • Series V: Photographs and Artwork
    1919 - 1982,
    1 box

    The photographs span Pinska's life. Early photographs of the Denishawn School feature Pinska and her peers as young students. There are also photographs of Ruth St. Denis taken from various engagements in the 1960s. Many of photos show Pinska in the role of instructor including photos of dance classes and performances in the 1970s.

  • Series VI: Music Scores
    1901 - 1934, undated
    3 boxes

    Contains manuscript scores, copies of scores, and printed scores. The earliest of the scores were possibly used at the Denishawn School, other scores may have been used by Pinska for instruction of dance at various points of her career. Includes some incomplete scores.

  • Series VII: Oversized Materials
    1966 - 1980,
    1 box

    The oversized materials consist of journals and images saved from a scrapbook. There are two awards that Pinska received in the later years of her life from the mayor's of New York City and Los Angeles.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The Klarna Pinska Papers were donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 1992.

Processing information

Processed by Thomas Lannon; Machine-readable finding aid created by Thomas Lannon.

Separated material

  • Audiotapes sent to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. 54 music tapes cataloged as *MGZT 7-1722. Interviews with Klarna Pinska cataloged as *MGZTL 4-1726 through *MGZTL 4-1730, *MGZTL 4-1732 through *MGZTL 4-1735, and *MGZTL 4-2963 through *MGZTL 4-2965.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.