Billy Wilson and Karel Shook

Billy Wilson was a student of Karel Shook before he went to Europe. In 1959, he started teaching at the Dutch National Ballet. He later became ballet master for the company where he invited Billy Wilson as a soloist. They remained longtime friends, and he eventually became godfather to Wilson’s daughter Alexis.

 

Source:

BILLY WILSON, A CAPITOL ASSET, The Washington Post

 

 

 

More about Karel Shook

Karel Shook was an American ballet master, choreographer and writer. He was a co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Shook was born in Renton, Washington. He was awarded a scholarship to the Cornish College of the Arts at the age of 13. Soon afterwards, he danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo for several seasons and performed in Broadway musicals. He danced with the New York City Ballet in 1949. In 1952, he became a member of the faculty of the Katherine Dunham School of Dance; after that school closed in 1954, he opened his own school. He joined the faculty of the June Taylor School in 1957. In 1959, he started teaching at the Dutch National Ballet; he later became ballet master for the company where he invited Billy Wilson as a soloist. In 1969, with Arthur Mitchell, he founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Shook developed choreography for opera, film, and television. In 1980, he received a presidential award for education. Karel Shook died July 25, 1985 at his home in Englewood, New Jersey at the age of 64. See more

 

Sources:

DANCE VIEW; A MAN WHO CHAMPIONED BLACKS IN BALLET, New York Times
Billy Wilson, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Karel Shook, Wikipedia

 

 

Elaine Yu