Pauline Koner

Background

Pauline Koner was born on June 26, 1912, in New York City. She was the daughter of Samuel and Ida (Ginsberg) Koner.

Education

In 1930, Pauline attended Columbia University. In 1985, she received a Doctor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College.

Career

In 1926 Pauline Koner made her debut with Fokine's company and toured the US with Ito (1928–9). She started her solo career in 1930 and toured extensively until joining Limón's company in 1946. She became principal dancer and stayed with the company until 1960 creating roles in Limón's The Moor's Pavane (1949) and Humphrey's Ruins and Visions (1953), among others. In 1947 she additionally founded her own company with which she toured internationally until 1963, later forming the Pauline Koner Dance Consort (1976–82). Her most famous solo was Farewell (1962), set to the last movement of Mahler's Song of the Earth. She also choreographed Poeme (1969) for the Ailey company. She lectured widely in America, Europe, and Japan, and in 1986 was appointed teacher at the Juilliard School. In 1989 she published her autobiography, Solitary Song (Duke Univ. Press).

Achievements

• Koner was a choreographer who organized and designed dances for stage performances at such venues as the Roxy Theater in New York. A dancer with the Jose Limon Dance Company from 1945 to 1960, she went on to found her own dance organization. The Pauline Koner Dance Consort had its namesake as director. Koner published two books: Solitary Song, an autobiography, in 1989, and Elements of Performance in 1993. She was the 1963 recipient of the Dance Magazine award. Koner appeared throughout the world, and her works have been performed by many companies.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Solitary Song: An Autobiography

    (In this well-illustrated work, Pauline Koner “traces the ...)

    1989
  • Elements of Performance: A Guide for Performers in Dance, Theatre and Opera 2013

Interests

• Avocations: music, swimming.

Connections

On May 23, 1939, Pauline married Fritz Mahler. He deceased in 1973.

Father:

Samuel Koner

Mother:

Ida (Ginsberg) Koner

husband:

Fritz Mahler

July 16, 1901, Vienna, Austria – June 18, 1973

Fritz Mahler was an Austrian conductor.

colleague:

Kitty Doner

September 6, 1895 — August 26, 1988

Kitty Doner (born Catherine Donohue) was an American vaudeville performer.

colleague:

José Limón

January 12, 1908 – December 2, 1972

José Arcadio Limón was a dancer and choreographer who developed what is now known as 'Limón technique'.

associate:

Doris Humphrey

October 17, 1895 – December 29, 1958

Doris Batcheller Humphrey was an American dancer and choreographer of the early twentieth century.