Ethel Winter

Ethel Winter (1924-2012)

Dancer, choreographer and teacher. Born in Wrentham, MA, Winter earned her BA and MA from Bennington College, where she studied dance with Martha Hill, and later trained with Martha Graham. Upon completing her studies she moved to New York and joined Graham’s company, where she danced until 1969 and was the first dancer to perform one of Graham’s own roles in a solo. At Graham’s encouragement, Winter established a company of her own which toured throughout the US from 1962 to 1968.
In addition to her performances with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Winter performed in Broadway musicals, films and television programs, and became the soloist of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. In 1954, she danced with the companies of Anna Sokolow, Sophie Maslow and Yuriko.

In 1964, Winter came to Israel to teach her choreography Fun and Fancy for Batsheva’s debut performance. She also gave lessons in the Graham Technique and trained the company in performing Graham’s dances.
Winter began teaching in the Martha Graham School in 1944, and kept teaching dance throughout the years. IN 1973, she was made director of Graham’s school for a year, and continued teaching in it until 1995. She also taught in Juilliard from 1953 to 2003. In addition, she taught in Adelphi University, Bennington College, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, University of Hawaii, and Repertory Dance Theatre in Utah.

Ethel Winter passed away in 2012.