Background
Nikolais, Alwin Theodore was born on November 25, 1910 in Southington, Connecticut, United States. Son of John and Martha (Heinrich) Nikolais.
Nikolais, Alwin Theodore was born on November 25, 1910 in Southington, Connecticut, United States. Son of John and Martha (Heinrich) Nikolais.
Student, Bennington College, summers 1938-1940; pupil of, Hanya Holm pupil of, Martha Graham pupil of, Doris Humphrey pupil of, Charles Weidman pupil of, Louis Horst, 1946-1948; private music and art study Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), Colorado College, 1979; Doctor of Fine Arts honorary, Washington University, St. Louis, 1979; doctorate (honorary), Philadelphia College Performing Arts, 1984; doctorate (honorary), University Illinois, 1985; doctorate (honorary), University Utah, 1985.
Director Nikolais School Dance, Hartford, Connecticut, 1939-1942. Director dance department Hartford University, 1940-1942, 46-48. Assistant to Hanya Holm New York Studio, 1946-1948.
Director Henry St. Playhouse, New York City, 1948-1971, Alwin Nikolais Dance Company (now Nikolais Dance Theatre), New York City, 1953-1993. Faculty Sarah Lawrence College, 1952-1954, Columbia Teachers College, 1953-1954, Colorado College, summers 1946-1949, Connecticut College, summers 1956-1957, University Utah, summers 1961-1963, 65-67. Special professor of dance University California, 1982.
Director, master teacher international dance course University Guilford, England, 1983. Visiting distinguished professor University North Carolina, 1983-1984. Green Honors professor Texas Christian University, 1984.
Co-director ChoreoArts Associates, 1973—1993, Pro Arts Inc., 1986. Green Honors professor Texas Christian University, 1984. Member national screening committee dance Institute International Education, 1966—1968, chairman, 1967—1968.
Consultant Associate Council of Arts, 1966—1967, from 1974. Member theatre arts committee Committee International Exchange Persons, 1967—1968. Member New York State Council on Arts, 1967—1977.
Honorary member, executive board member Consul International de la Dance United Nations Educational. Director Centre Nationale de Danse Contemporaine d'Angers and Paris, France, from 1978. Board directors Arts Council American, 1974—1993, Advisers for Arts.
Member Artists Committee for Kennedy Center Honors, 1978, 87, International Dance Alliance, 1984. Choreographer in residence La Menagerie de Verre, Paris, 1986. Member first official American artists delegation People's Republic China, 1981.
Member advisors board Congress on Research Dance, 1979—1993. With Army of the United States, 1942-1946.
Served with Army of the United States, 1942-1946. Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member Association American Dance Companies (dir.1966-1967, president 1967-1968), National Society Literature and Arts, United States-Chinese Artist Exchange, Broadcast Music Inc., Society des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques.