Life Overview

Erick Hawkins was born in Trinidad, Colorado on April 23, 1909. He graduated from Harvard University in 1930 with a major in Greek Civilization. He studied dance from Yvonne Georgi in Austria before joining the School of American Ballet with George Balanchine.

Show Piece was his first work performed by Ballet Caravan in 1937.

The following year he joined the Martha Graham Dance Company where he became the first male addition to the company. After becoming an official member he became a lead role in the majority of Martha's works, most popularly Appalachian Springs in 1944. Graham and Hawkins became lovers and then were married in 1948. However, shortly after in 1951 he left her company and a few years later in 1954 they signed the divorce papers.  

After leaving Graham's company he used different techniques in his movement.  He creating his own company called The Erick Hawkins Dance Company and toured with Hawkins Theatre Orchestra. He firmly believed in playing to live music and was known for his contemporary works.  He moved towards an aesthetic vision detached from realistic psychology, plot, social or political agenda, or simple musical analogue. He used influences of Japanese, Native American, Greek classics and Zen all in his choreographic works. He ended his career with a National Medal of Arts awarded to him by president  Bill Clinton on October 14, 1994. He died a month later.