The “La Meri” The “La Meri” CollectionCollection
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““La Meri”La Meri”
This Library Resource is only a sample of This Library Resource is only a sample of what can be found at the Texana what can be found at the Texana Genealogy Desk. The vast collection Genealogy Desk. The vast collection explores Russell Meriwether Hughes’ life, explores Russell Meriwether Hughes’ life, accomplishments, and profound accomplishments, and profound influence on the world of dance. We influence on the world of dance. We encourage you to research the collection encourage you to research the collection on your own for a better understanding on your own for a better understanding on this remarkable dancer, on this remarkable dancer, choreographer, teacher, and poet. choreographer, teacher, and poet. Finding AidFinding Aid
““La Meri”: BiographyLa Meri”: Biography
Russell Meriwether Hughes, born on May 13, 1899 in Russell Meriwether Hughes, born on May 13, 1899 in Louisville, Kentucky.Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1910 she moved with her family to San Antonio and in 1924 In 1910 she moved with her family to San Antonio and in 1924 made her professional stage debut dancing prologues to made her professional stage debut dancing prologues to silent movies at the Rialto Theatre.silent movies at the Rialto Theatre.
She assumed the stage name La Meri. She moved to New She assumed the stage name La Meri. She moved to New York City played the “subway circuit” with the dance company York City played the “subway circuit” with the dance company of Maria Montero, and was a featured performer in Keith of Maria Montero, and was a featured performer in Keith Times’ vaudeville act and in Shubert’s “A Night in Spain.” Times’ vaudeville act and in Shubert’s “A Night in Spain.”
The peak of her career was from the late 1920s through the The peak of her career was from the late 1920s through the early 1940s when she received widespread acclaim during early 1940s when she received widespread acclaim during worldwide international tours traveling to Mexico, Central and worldwide international tours traveling to Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, India and the Far East.Tasmania, India and the Far East.
““La Meri”: BiographyLa Meri”: Biography
In 1940 she established the School of Natya with Ruth St. In 1940 she established the School of Natya with Ruth St. Denis in New York City where she taught and performed with Denis in New York City where she taught and performed with her company the Five Natyas and presented noted guest her company the Five Natyas and presented noted guest speakers. speakers.
She also taught and lectured at Columbia University, She also taught and lectured at Columbia University, Connecticut College, New York University and the Juilliard Connecticut College, New York University and the Juilliard School of Music. School of Music.
She was a distinguished poet and author of several articles She was a distinguished poet and author of several articles on dance as well as textbooks on dance techniques. on dance as well as textbooks on dance techniques.
Her text “Spanish Dancing,” published in 1969 is generally Her text “Spanish Dancing,” published in 1969 is generally considered to be the definitive work on the subject.considered to be the definitive work on the subject.
““La Meri”: BiographyLa Meri”: Biography
She retired to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1970 where she She retired to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1970 where she established Ethnic Dance Arts, Inc. which produced annual established Ethnic Dance Arts, Inc. which produced annual Ethnic Dance Festivals each summer. Ethnic Dance Festivals each summer.
In 1972 she was awarded the prestigious Capezio Dance In 1972 she was awarded the prestigious Capezio Dance Award and in 1973 was given an honorary citation by Texas Award and in 1973 was given an honorary citation by Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe recognizing her for artistic Governor Dolph Briscoe recognizing her for artistic achievement. achievement.
In 1984 she moved back to San Antonio where she died In 1984 she moved back to San Antonio where she died four years later at the age of 89 on January 7, 1988.four years later at the age of 89 on January 7, 1988.
““La Meri” in San AntonioLa Meri” in San Antonio
Lilian and “La Meri” at San Pedro Park
Birthday party for “Dickie” at house on Laurel St.Mulhollands High School
for Girls Graduation, May 1913
La Meri’s First Automobile, 202 King Williams Street, 1913
Lillian Hughes Newcomer: Lillian Hughes Newcomer: “La Meri’s” Sister“La Meri’s” Sister
La Meri: Chronology of Appearances 1931-1946
Jacob’s Pillow ProductionJacob’s Pillow Production
La Meri (1899-1988) studied and La Meri (1899-1988) studied and performed all over the world. performed all over the world. She made her New York debut in She made her New York debut in 1928 and first danced at Jacob's 1928 and first danced at Jacob's Pillow in 1940. Pillow in 1940.
La Meri was also a major La Meri was also a major cornerstone of the Pillow's cornerstone of the Pillow's faculty for decades, and she faculty for decades, and she served as a member of the served as a member of the Board of Directors. Board of Directors.
While she presented the dances While she presented the dances of many cultures, she of many cultures, she specialized in Spanish and specialized in Spanish and Indian forms. Indian forms.
A particularly memorable A particularly memorable offering was her interpretation offering was her interpretation of of Swan LakeSwan Lake using Hindu using Hindu gesture technique.gesture technique. La Meri as Hamsa-Rani in her production of Swan Lake
Photo: Marcus Blechman, 1944
Swan Lake Performance at Jacob's PillowSwan Lake Performance at Jacob's Pillow
“Song of Songs” L to R: Peter di Falco, La Meri, Ted Shawn- Photographer: Jack Mitchel at Jacob’s Pillow, 1946
La Meri
La Meri, Javanese costume Photo: Marcus Blechman
“The White Peacock” (Griffes) Paris, 1930
Debut in Bharata Natyam (Choreog. Vadivelu
Pillai) Madras, 1937
“Nasu to Kabocha” (Choreog. Kodera) Photo: Marcus Blechman,
1945
“Huayno” (Peru) Photo: Marcus Blechman, N.Y., 1949
La Meri and Peter di Falco “Sevellanos”- Dec 1946
“Escape” Photographer: Jack Mitchell, Jacob’s Pillow 1960
“Carabali” (Cuba), Photographer Rosel, New York, 1944
“Zandunga” (Mexico), Photographer: Rosel, New York, 1944
“Farruca” (Flamenco) Photographer: Marcus Blechman, New York, 1944
“Marwari Kathak” Photographer: Rosel, 1944
In a Prologue in San Antonio, 1922
La Meri in “El Gato” Photographer: Rosel, 1944
‘Krishna-Gopala” (Choreog. La Meri) E. D. C. Theater N.Y.C., 1940
La Meri- Ruth St Denis at “School of Natya” Studio,1940
“Parvati” in “Pradakchina of Ganesh” Her Last Performance, Photographer: Craig, Cape Cod
1969
La Meri at her home in Cape Cod with her champion Belgian
Sheepdogs
Program: A Summer Festival of
Ethnic Dance- MA,1971
Anecdotes:Anecdotes:
The London press said that La Meri is The London press said that La Meri is “not one woman but twenty!” It was “not one woman but twenty!” It was with this same impression in mind with this same impression in mind that a certain lady said , after a that a certain lady said , after a concert, “Madame La Meri, I wonder concert, “Madame La Meri, I wonder that the authorities don’t arrest her that the authorities don’t arrest her husband for bigamy!”husband for bigamy!”
Anecdotes:Anecdotes:
La Meri’s first press interview took place La Meri’s first press interview took place when she was four years old. She was when she was four years old. She was sitting in the lobby of a big hotel waiting sitting in the lobby of a big hotel waiting for her Daddy when an idle reporter saw for her Daddy when an idle reporter saw her, all blue ribbons and curls. He asked her, all blue ribbons and curls. He asked her name and nothing could have been her name and nothing could have been more solemn than her gracious bow and more solemn than her gracious bow and reply of “Russell Meriwether Hughes.” Such reply of “Russell Meriwether Hughes.” Such a big name for such a little girl amused the a big name for such a little girl amused the newspaper man and he gave her an newspaper man and he gave her an interview then and there, which came out interview then and there, which came out in the next morning’s edition—much to the in the next morning’s edition—much to the surprise of the young lady’s parents!surprise of the young lady’s parents!
Anecdotes:Anecdotes:
At La Meri’s debut concert in London, several At La Meri’s debut concert in London, several distinguished personalities were invited by the local distinguished personalities were invited by the local management. Among them was the sister of the management. Among them was the sister of the late John Galsworthy, herself a writer and late John Galsworthy, herself a writer and enthusiastic follower of the arts. At the end the enthusiastic follower of the arts. At the end the concert and the inevitable “reception” back-stage, concert and the inevitable “reception” back-stage, a distinguished, white-haired lady was found a distinguished, white-haired lady was found rapping obstinately on the window of the closed rapping obstinately on the window of the closed box-office. When an attendant asked what she box-office. When an attendant asked what she wanted, explaining that the box-office was closed wanted, explaining that the box-office was closed for the night, the great Galsworthy’s sister said, for the night, the great Galsworthy’s sister said, “But you must open it at once, for I want to pay for “But you must open it at once, for I want to pay for my ticket. No one has any right to see anything as my ticket. No one has any right to see anything as beautiful as this concert without paying for it!” beautiful as this concert without paying for it!”
Books by “La Meri”:Books by “La Meri”:
Dance Out the Answer : An Dance Out the Answer : An Autobiography / La Meri (Russell Autobiography / La Meri (Russell Meriwether Hughes) ; Foreword by John Meriwether Hughes) ; Foreword by John Martin. Martin. SAPL CatalogSAPL Catalog
Total Education in Ethnic Dance / La Meri Total Education in Ethnic Dance / La Meri (Russell Meriwether Hughes) ; Foreword by (Russell Meriwether Hughes) ; Foreword by Walter Terry. Walter Terry. SAPL CatalogSAPL Catalog
Spanish Dancing, by La Meri Spanish Dancing, by La Meri SAPL CatalogSAPL Catalog Dance as an Art-Form; Its History and Dance as an Art-Form; Its History and
Development, by La Meri Development, by La Meri SAPL CatalogSAPL Catalog
The “La Meri” CollectionThe “La Meri” Collection
The collection consist of correspondence, The collection consist of correspondence, printed materials, photographs and photo printed materials, photographs and photo albums, scrapbooks and audio tapes albums, scrapbooks and audio tapes chronicling the career of La Meri from her chronicling the career of La Meri from her early childhood in the early 1900s through her early childhood in the early 1900s through her retirement in the 1980s. Many of the materials retirement in the 1980s. Many of the materials in the collection are undated. Printed materials in the collection are undated. Printed materials include programs, brochures and reviews of include programs, brochures and reviews of performances, articles about La Meri, and performances, articles about La Meri, and articles and books written by her. Also articles and books written by her. Also included in the collection are materials from included in the collection are materials from her sister, Lillian Hughes Newcomer.her sister, Lillian Hughes Newcomer.
For more information on the “La For more information on the “La Meri” Collection, please visit the Meri” Collection, please visit the Texana/Genealogy Desk at the Texana/Genealogy Desk at the San Antonio Central Library.San Antonio Central Library.
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