About This Orbit: Louis Johnson
Director and choreographer Louis Johnson found himself at the famed School of American Ballet, where he was mentored by Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine after being advised by his teachers to move to New York City. These associations led directly to a performance with the New York City Ballet and then on to Broadway shows. His public acclaim in these Broadway performances led to an offer to choreograph Lament for the New York City Ballet Club. That success, in turn, led to him receiving an offer to choreograph the Broadway production Black Nativity by Langston Hughes. He choreographed for films like Cotton Comes to Harlem and The Wiz, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. Louis started Howard University’s Dance Department in Washington D.C.
Source:
Louis Johnson’s Biography, The History Makers
The Metropolitan Opera
Louis Johnson received great acclaim for choreographing operas performed by the Metropolitan Opera. His famous choreographed operas are La Giaconda, starring Martina La Rowa, and Aida, which starred Leontyne Price.
Source:
Louis Johnson’s Biography, The History Makers
Dance Theatre of Harlem
As a choreographer, Louis Johnson created works for Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Johnson choreographed one of his most famous pieces Forces of Rhythm in 1971. This famous piece was set to classical and contemporary music including Tchaikovsky and Donny Hathaway and became a signature work of DTH.
Sources:
Louis Johnson, 90, Genre-Crossing Dancer and Choreographer, Dies, The New York Times
Our History, Dance Theater of Harlem
Howard University
Johnson oversaw multiple Black arts symposiums at universities and colleges such as Yale, Howard, Morehouse, and Virginia State. He taught the first-ever Black theater course for Yale, and in 1975, founded Howard University’s Dance Department.
Source:
Louis Johnson’s Biography, The History Makers
Jones-Haywood Dance School
Louis Johnson is one of the many notable alumni who began their ballet training at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. With exceptional artistic talents, as well as gymnastic and dancing talents, he enrolled when he was in high school.
Sources:
SAB TRAILBLAZER: LOUIS JOHNSON, School of American Ballet
Louis Johnson’s Biography, The History Makers
Kwamina
In 1961, Louis Johnson performed alongside several notable Black dancers in Kwamina on Broadway. These co-stars included Doris de Mendez (New York Negro Ballet); Charles Moore (Negro Dance Theater, Katherine Dunham Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater); Ronald Platts (New York Negro Ballet); Charles Queenan (Negro Dance Theatre); and Glory Van Scott (American Ballet Theatre, Agnes de Mille Company, Katherine Dunham Company, Talley Beatty Company).
Source:
House of Flowers
Broadway musical House of Flowers featured a cast of many familiar faces from the ballet and modern dance world. Louis Johnson performed an ensemble role as a “Townsperson” in the production with Donald McKayle, Arthur Mitchell (New York City Ballet principal and founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem), and Walter Nicks. The cast also included Alvin Ailey as Alvin, Carmen de Lavallade as Carmen, Geoffrey Holder as The Champion, and Glory Van Scott as Mamselle Cigarette. Johnson and Mitchell had performed together previously in a 1952 production of Four Saints in Three Acts and would work together in the future when Johnson choreographed for the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Source:
Bernard Johnson
Louis Johnson and Bernard Johnson performed together as replacement ensemble members in Hallelujah, Baby!, which earned the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1968. By this time, Louis Johnson had been performing on Broadway for over a decade and had been a part of the premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Ballade; Bernard Johnson had previously performed in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and with the New York Negro Ballet. The two dancers would have crossed paths in the past, as Louis Johnson choreographed Folk Impressions for New York Negro Ballet.
Sources:
Hallelujah, Baby!, Playbill
Ward Fleming Founds Ballet Americana/New York Negro Ballet, MoBBallet
Bernard Johnson, MoBBallet
Louis Johnson, MoBBallet
James Thurston
Louis Johnson and James Thurston worked closely together during Treemonisha, for which Johnson was choreographer. Thurston, previously a dancer with the New York Negro Ballet, a company for which Johnson choreographed, served as assistant choreographer, dance captain, and dancer for Treemonisha. The reprisal of Scott Joplin’s 1911 opera premiered October 21, 1975 on Broadway. Joplin’s creation was largely unknown during his lifetime and only officially premiered in 1972.
Sources:
James Thurston, MoBBallet
Treemonisha, Playbill
Treemonisha, Wikipedia
Arthur Mitchell
Louis Johnson and Arthur Mitchell performed together in several stage productions. Both made their Broadway debuts dancing in 1952 in Four Saints in Three Acts. At this time, Mitchell had started studying at the School of American Ballet but had not yet joined New York City Ballet. Johnson and Mitchell may have crossed paths outside of rehearsal and performing Four Saints in Three Acts, as Johnson performed with New York City Ballet in Jerome Robbins’ Ballade that same year. The two dancers again worked together playing “Townspeople” in House of Flowers on Broadway. They would work together in the future when Johnson choreographed for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Forces of Rhythm, one of Johnson’s most popular ballets, was created on DTH and premiered in 1972.
Sources:
Four Saints in Three Acts, Playbill
Louis Johnson, 90, Genre-Crossing Dance and Choreographer, Dies, The New York Times
House of Flowers, Playbill
Louis Johnson, MoBBallet
Four Saints in Three Acts
Louis Johnson; Arthur Mitchell, legendary New York City Ballet dancer and founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem; and Helen Taitt, a member of the New York Negro Ballet and founder of the School of Guyana Ballet, appeared in Four Saints in Three Acts on opening night and most likely all 15 performances of the opera in 1952. William Dollar served as their choreographer. It is unknown if Mitchell and Johnson met during this production, but it most likely helped solidify a relationship that would lead to Johnson choreographing pieces for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, including one of his most notable creations Forces of Rhythm in 1971.
Sources:
Four Saints in Three Acts, Playbill
Louis Johnson, 90, Genre-Crossing Dance and Choreographer, Dies, The New York Times
The Wiz
Lena Horne, in the role of Glinda the Good Witch of the South, was a member of The Wiz’s all-star cast. Though Horne had plenty of experience performing on Broadway, she was not a part of the original stage production, nor was Louis Johnson, who took over from George Faison as choreographer for the film version.
Glory van Scott—member of American Ballet Theatre, the Agnes de Mille Company, the Katherine Dunham Company, and the Talley Beatty Company—performed a bit part in the 1978 film The Wiz, credited as the “Rolls Royce Lady.” Due to her dance experience, it is likely she worked with Louis Johnson during filming. Johnson and Scott additionally performed together in House of Flowers and Kwamina.
Sources:
Victoria Merengwa
Neenah Young
Nicole Young
Madeline Crawford