Anna Sokolow
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Anna Sokolow (February 9, 1910 – March 29, 2000) was an American
dancer Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
and
choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
. Sokolow's work is known for its social justice focus and theatricality. Throughout her career, Sokolow supported the development of
modern dance Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert dance, concert or theatrical dance which includes dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th ...
around the world, including in Mexico and Israel. At the beginning of her career, Sokolow was a principal dancer in the Martha Graham Company. Sokolow soon became an independent choreographer, who went on to form multiple dance companies throughout her life. Sokolow choreographed for and set her work on companies around the world, including major companies such as Batsheva Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Jose Limón Dance Company, Joffery Ballet and the Daniel Lewis Dance Company. Her work continues to be performed by the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in New York City. Her work is preserved and set by the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble and the Sokolow Dance Foundation in Massachusetts.


Early life

Anna Sokolow was born on February 9, 1910, in
Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
, and grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Both of her parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Her father, Samuel Sokolow, immigrated to the U.S. around 1905 followed in 1907 by her mother Sarah. Intending to reside in Hartford, Connecticut, Samuel and Sarah eventually moved to New York City for better job prospects. Sarah started working in the garment industry when Samuel became disabled by
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...
. A socialist, Sarah was heavily involved in the Garment Workers Union. Anna Sokolow was the third child of four born to Samuel and Sarah, preceded by Isadore and Rose, and succeeded by Gertie.


Training

Sokolow began her dance training by taking classes at the Emanuel Sisterhood alongside her sister Rose. Her first teacher, Elsa Pohl, was influenced by the work of Isadora Duncan. Despite the objection of her family, Sokolow moved away from home and dropped out of school in favor of a dance career at age 15. While training, Sokolow supported herself by working in a factory. She began training under Irene Lewisohn, Louis Horst, and
Martha Graham Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer, teacher and choreographer, whose style, the Graham technique, reshaped the dance world and is still taught in academies worldwide. Graham danced and taught for over s ...
, among others, at the Neighborhood Playhouse at the Henry Street Settlement in 1925 as a “Junior Player.” Blanche Talmud, Sokolow's main teacher, had a background in Delsarte and Dalcroze eurhythmics. As a student at the Playhouse, Sokolow studied voice, dance and pantomime. She eventually received a full scholarship at the Playhouse, and participated in her first major performance in 1928 as a part of Ernest Bloch's “Israel Symphony.”


Career

Sokolow first performed with the Martha Graham Company in 1930. She danced with the company as a soloist for about 8 years. While performing with the Graham company, she assisted Louis Horst in his choreography classes. One of her notable performances with the company was in Massine's “Rite of Spring” in 1930. Alongside her work with the Martha Graham Company, Sokolow began choreographing and offering solo performances in 1932. She developed the Theatre Union Dance Group in 1933, which was renamed “Dance Unit” in 1935. In programs for “Dance Unit”, Anna Sokolow's name wasn't emphasized in order to bring more attention to the group as opposed to certain individuals. In 1936, a full evening of her own work was presented at the Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA) in New York City. Some of the works included in the program were ''Speaker'' (1935), ''Strange American Funeral'' (1935), ''Inquisition ‘36'' (1936), and ''Four Little Salon Pieces'' (1936). In 1937, four men joined the Dance Unit for the first time, premiering in ''Excerpts from a War Poem'' (1937). With the addition of men, Sokolow avoided dividing movement based on gender and instead presented all bodies as equals. Beginning in the 1930s, she affiliated herself with the politicized "radical dance" movement, out of which developed her work ''Anti-War Trilogy'' (1933). During this time period, she performed and choreographed both solo and ensemble works, which tackled subject matter that included the exploitation of workers and growing troubles of Jews in Germany. Sokolow drew inspiration from the Union movement, and stated in a 1975 interview that she considered the unions her first audience. She often explored themes of Communism, socialism, and the working class through her dances, particularly in ''Strange American Funeral'' (1935) and ''Case No. --'' (1937). Several works from this period, including ''Anti-War Trilogy'', were set to music by the composer
Alex North Alex North (born Isadore Soifer; December 4, 1910 – September 8, 1991) was an American composer best known for his many film scores, including ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' (one of the first jazz-based film scores), '' Viva Zapata!'', ''Spartac ...
. In the 1940s, Sokolow continued premiering works in various venues throughout New York City, such as ''The Bride'' (1946), a piece influenced by traditional elements from
Orthodox Jewish Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as literally revealed by God on Mount Sinai and faithfully tra ...
wedding ceremonies. From 1955 to 1985, Sokolow regularly choreographed for the Juilliard Dance Ensemble at the
Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
. She created many notable pieces for the group including ''Primavera'' (1955) and ''Ballade'' (1965). In 1953, Sokolow created ''Lyric Suite'', one of her most well-received works. A collection of solos, duets, and ensemble work set to the music of
Alban Berg Alban Maria Johannes Berg ( ; ; 9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935) was an Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School. His compositional style combined Romantic lyricism with the twelve-tone technique. Although he left a relatively sma ...
, ''Lyric Suite'' was noteworthy for its lack of a narrative and its "suite form" design. The New Dance Group sponsored the first showing of ''Lyric Suite'' in March 1954. Sokolow considered this piece as the beginning of a new era in her choreography. Another of Sokolow's signature works is ''Rooms'' (1955), a piece that explores loneliness. The music is a Jazz score, composed for the dance by Kenyon Hopkins. ''Rooms'' is divided into six sections: Dream, Escape, Desire, Panic, Daydream, and The End? The piece features eight dancers and eight chairs, with the intention that each dancer and chair portrays a character in a secluded room. From 1958 to 1965, Sokolow created her ''Opus'' series. This series includes ''Opus '58'' (1958), ''Opus Jazz 1958'' (1958), ''Opus '60'' (1960), ''Opus '62'' (1962), ''Opus '63'' (1963), and ''Opus '65'' (1965). The set of six pieces, along with ''Session for Six'' (1958) and ''Session for Eight'' (1959) used similar movement vocabularies and content with slight variations in each.
Labanotation Labanotation (grammatically correct form "Labannotation" or "Laban notation" is uncommon) is a system for analyzing and recording human movement (Notation, notation system), invented by Austro-Hungarian choreographer and dancer Rudolf von Laban ...
scores show the similarities, including the use of strong accents and the dropping of the body and its parts to the floor, which created a jaded, teenage mood. To accompany this mood, costumes for the ''Opus'' pieces were simple, consisting of leotards, t-shirts, and tights. In some performances of the ''Opus'' series, the performance was given on a bare stage, with no curtains, against the bare brick walls of the theater. In the later 1960s, Sokolow used jazz style to protest the war occurring in Vietnam and to give voice to the countercultures of America. ''Time+'' (1966) was a war protest dance with multiple parts. In the piece, Sokolow used clear imagery of soldiers and their experiences of war. The piece ended with soldiers that appear to be wounded and struggling with one another to stand, showing the great hardships that come from war. In the 1970s and 80s, Sokolow's artistic focus turned to the great painters, writers and composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her dances of this period include '' Magritte, Magritte'' in 1970, ''Scenes from the Music of
Charles Ives Charles Edward Ives (; October 20, 1874May 19, 1954) was an American modernist composer, actuary and businessman. Ives was among the earliest renowned American composers to achieve recognition on a global scale. His music was largely ignored d ...
'' in 1971, ''Homenaje a
Federico García Lorca Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca (5 June 1898 – 19 August 1936) was a Spanish poet, playwright, and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27, a g ...
'' in 1973, ''Homage to Alexander Scriabin'' in 1977, ''Poe'' in 1977 (revised and renamed ''Homage to
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...
'' in 1985), and ''
Kurt Weill Kurt Julian Weill (; ; March 2, 1900April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer active from the 1920s in his native country, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for hi ...
'' in 1988. Sokolow also returned to the theme in one of her last pieces, ''
Frida Frida, Frieda, or Freida may refer to: People and fictional characters *Frida (given name), any of several people or characters ** *Frieda (surname), any of several people or characters *Afroditi Frida (born 1964), Greek singer *Frida (singer) ...
'', in 1997.  After Sokolow's death in 2000, The Player's Project continued until 2004. After that point, the company's former co-artistic directors, Jim May and Lorry May, formed separate institutions to maintain Sokolow's repertory and legacy. The Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, founded by Jim May, performs Sokolow's repertory plus contemporary choreographies under the direction of Artistic Director Samantha Géracht and co-artistic directors Lauren Naslund and Eleanor Bunker. The Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble continues to perform, set and reconstruct Sokolow's work today. The Sokolow Dance Foundation, directed by Lorry May, offers unique educational programs and actively licenses and reconstructs Sokolow's works. 


Theater work

Sokolow began her association with Broadway in 1947, choreographing for the musical ''Street Scene''. She choreographed for multiple Broadway productions, including ''Happy as Larry'' (1950) and ''Camino Real'' (1953). She worked as the choreographer during the rehearsal process for the first production of the musical ''Hair'' (1967), but left the production before its first performance and her contributions were not credited. Sokolow also frequently staged works for the
New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through its 2013 bankruptcy, and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, dubbed "the peopl ...
, including multiple productions in their 1956 season. Sokolow choreographed dances for ''The California Story'' at San Diego's Fiesta del Pacifico in 1957.


International work

Though based in New York City, Sokolow was known for her work abroad as well. In 1939, she traveled to Mexico with her company to perform at the Bellas Artes (School of Fine Arts) in
Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, where they received positive reviews. This success led to the formation of the group, La Paloma Azul. Sokolow created four works for this company ''El Renacuajo Paseador'' (1940). After her dancers left to return to New York City, Sokolow chose to stay behind to continue working at the request of the Ministry of Public Education. La Paloma Azul dissolved in 1940 due to the emergence of a competitor dance group. She eventually returned to New York City in the early 1940s but continued to visit Mexico City occasionally throughout her career.
Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...
encouraged Sokolow to go to Israel to work with the Inbal Dance Theatre in 1953. Sokolow's visits to Israel began in the 1950s and concluded in the 1980s. Her first program to premiere in Israel featured ''The Treasure'' (1962), ''The Soldier's Tale'' (1954), and ''Dreams'' (1961). In 1962, she helped established Israel's Lyric Theatre. The company was short-lived as they disbanded in 1964. Sokolow returned to Israel as a guest choreographer for Batsheva Dance Company in 1972.


Teaching

One of Anna Sokolow's earliest teaching experiences occurred during a trip to Russia in the early 1930s. While there with her then-lover and musical collaborator, Alex North, she taught classes in the Graham technique. In 1955, Sokolow taught her first classes at
Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named aft ...
. She officially joined the faculty in 1958 and taught classes in "method dancing" from 1958 to 1993. Sokolow also worked alongside Robert Lewis as a teacher at the Repertory Theater at Lincoln Center and the
HB Studio The HB Studio (Herbert Berghof Studio) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering professional training in the performing arts through classes, workshops, free lectures, theater productions, theater rentals, a theater artist residency prog ...
. Additionally, she taught choreography classes at the Hebrew Arts School later in her career.


The Actors Studio

In 1947, Sokolow's close friend
Elia Kazan Elias Kazantzoglou (, ; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003), known as Elia Kazan ( ), was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one of the most honored and inf ...
convinced her to become a founding member of The Actors Studio. Sokolow taught movement for actors. The classes were rooted in the Graham technique and also incorporated floor work and
ballet barre A barre () is a stationary handrail that provides support for people during various types of exercise. Barres are used extensively in ballet training and warming up, warm up exercises, where such exercises are commonly referred to as ''barre wor ...
elements. Her piece ''Rooms'' (1955) emerged as a response to her experiences working with groups of aspiring actors. Sokolow eventually set a small-scale production—''Elmer and Lilly''—on her students. Sokolow left The Actors Studio in the mid-1950s.


Repertory

Although much of Sokolow's work was not filmed, some pieces may be seen at the New York Public Library in its Dance Division. Here follows a list of many of her pieces of choreography along with premiere date and premiering company (when known). * ''Anti War Trilogy'' (1933 – Theatre Union Dance Group) * ''Histrionics'' (1933) * ''Speaker'' (1935) * ''Strange American Funeral'' (1935 – Dance Unit of the New Dance League) * ''Inquisition ‘36'' (1936 ) * ''Four Little Salon Pieces'' (1936) * ''Ballad'' ''(In a Popular Style)'' 1936 * ''Case No.--'' (1937) * ''Excerpts From a War Poem'' (F.T. Marinetti) (1937) * ''Slaughter of the Innocents'' (1937) * ''Songs of a Semite'' (1937) * “''Filibuster” from The Bourbons Got the Blues'' (1938) * ''Dance of All Nations, Lenin Memorial Meeting'' (1938) * ''Sing for Your Supper'' (1939) * ''The Exile (A Dance Poem)'' (1939 – Dance Unit) * ''Don Lindo de Almería'' (1940 – Grupo de Danzas Clasicas y Modernas) * ''El Renacuajo Paseador'' (1940 – La Paloma Azul) * ''Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter'' (1941) * ''Kaddish'' (1945) * ''The Bride'' (1946) * ''Mexican Retablo'' (1946) * ''Images from the Old Testament'' (1946) * ''Lyric Suite'' (1953) * ''Histoire de Soldat'' (1954) * ''Rooms'' (1955) * ''Poem'' (1956 – Theatre Dance Company) * ''Session for Six'' (1958 – Anna Sokolow Dance Company) * ''Opus Jazz 1958'' (1958 – The Israel National Opera) * ''Opus '58'' (1958) * ''Opus ‘60'' (1960 – Ballet de Bellas Artes) * ''Dreams'' (1961 – Anna Sokolow Dance Company) * ''Opus ‘62'' (1962- Lyric Theatre) * ''Opus ‘63'' (1963 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''Forms'' (1964 – Anna Sokolow Dance Company) * ''Opus ‘65'' (1965 – Apprentices and Scholarship Students of the Robert
Joffrey Ballet The Joffrey Ballet is an American dance company and training institution in Chicago, Illinois. The Joffrey regularly performs classical and contemporary ballets during its annual performance season at the Civic Opera House, including its annual ...
) * ''Odes'' (1965) * ''Ballade'' (1965 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''Time+'' (1966) * ''Deserts'' (1967 – Anna Sokolow Dance Company) * ''Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical'' (1967) * ''Steps of Silence'' (1968 – Repertory Dance Theatre) * ''Magritte, Magritte'' (1970 – Lyric Theatre) * ''Scenes from the Music of Charles Ives'' (1971 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''A Short Lecture and Demonstration on the Evolution of Ragtime as Presented by
Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe ( Lemott, later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American blues and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer of Louisiana Creole descent. Morton was jazz ...
'' (1971 – Players' Project) * ''Three Poems'' (1973 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''Homenaje a Federico Garcia Lorca'' (1973 – Ballet Independiente) * ''In Memory of No. 52436'' (1973 – Batsheva Dance Company) * ''Ride the Culture Loop'' (1975 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''Moods'' (1975 – Contemporary Dance System) * ''The Song of Song''s (1976 - Inbal) * ''Ellis Island'' (1976 – Juilliard Dance Ensemble) * ''Homage to Alexander Scriabin'' (1977 – Contemporary Dance System) * ''For Langston'' (1980 – Rod Rodgers Dance Company) * ''Preludes'' (1981 – Repertory West Dance Company) * ''Song of Debora''h (1981 – New Players’ Project) * ''From the Diaries of Franz Kafka'' (1981 – New Players’ Project) * ''Nocturne'' (1982 – H.T. Dance Company) * ''Elegy'' (1982 – Mary Anthony Dance Theatre) * ''Les Noces'' (1982 – Batsheva Dance Company) * ''As I remember'' (1984 – Daniel Lewis Dance Repertory Company) * ''Homenaje a David Alfaro Siqueiros'' (1984) * ''Homage to John Field'' (1984 – Dublin City Ballet) * ''Preludes'' (1984 – Players' Project) * ''Homage to Poe'' (1986/1993 – Players' Project) * ''Kurt Weill'' (1988 – Players’ Project) * ''Poem''s (1988 – Jose Limon Dance Company) * ''Poem'' (1995) * ''Four Songs'' (1995) * ''Frida'' (1997) * ''Los Conversos'' he Converts(1981)


Work for Broadway

*''Noah'' (1935) -
play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...
with music by Louis Horst - co-
choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
*''Sing for Your Supper'' (1939) -
revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...
- co-choreographer *'' Street Scene'' (1947) -
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
- choreographer *''The Great Campaign'' (1947) -
play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...
- choreographer *'' Sleepy Hollow'' (1948) - musical - choreographer *''Regina'' (1949) -
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
- choreographer *''Happy as Larry'' (1950) - musical - choreographer *'' Camino Real'' (1953) - play - directing assistant *''Red Roses for Me'' (1955) - play - choreographer - Tony Nomination for Best Choreography *''
Candide ( , ) is a French satire written by Voltaire, a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment, first published in 1759. The novella has been widely translated, with English versions titled ''Candide: or, All for the Best'' (1759); ''Candide: or, The ...
'' (1956) -
operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the oper ...
- choreographer *''Copper and Brass'' (1957) - musical - choreographer *'' Clothes for a Summer Hotel'' (1980) -
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
consultant A consultant (from "to deliberate") is a professional (also known as ''expert'', ''specialist'', see variations of meaning below) who provides advice or services in an area of specialization (generally to medium or large-size corporations). Cons ...


Legacy

Nicknamed modern dance's "rebellious spirit", Sokolow won a variety of awards including the Samuel Scripps Award (1991), Aztec Eagle Honor (1988), an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Boston Conservatory (1988), and an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from the
Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...
(1978). In 1967, she received a prestigious grant from the National Council on the Arts, worth $10,000; Sokolow used this funding to create ''Deserts'' (1967). Sokolow was inducted into the Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame in 1998, and the
American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, Music of the United States, music, and Visual art of the United States, art. Its fixed number ...
in 1993. Sokolow dedicated her works to her inspirations including Isadora Duncan, Louis Horst,
Anne Frank Annelies Marie Frank (, ; 12 June 1929 – February or March 1945)Research by The Anne Frank House in 2015 revealed that Frank may have died in February 1945 rather than in March, as Dutch authorities had long assumed"New research sheds new li ...
,
José Limón José Arcadio Limón (January 12, 1908 – December 2, 1972) was a dancer and choreographer from Mexico and who developed what is now known as 'Limón technique'. In the 1940s, he founded the José Limón Dance Company (now the Limón Dan ...
, Vaslav Nijinsky,
Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
, and her parents. Her choreography continues to be performed by the Sokolow/Theatre Dance Ensemble and by dance companies and schools around the world. One block of Christopher Street in New York City's
Greenwich Village Greenwich Village, or simply the Village, is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the north, Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the s ...
bears the honorary name of "Anna Sokolow Way," in recognition of her longtime residence at 1 Christopher St.


Personal life

Sokolow was romantically involved with Alex North, her musical collaborator, for seven years. Despite the dissolution of their relationship, they continued to work together throughout their careers. She had no children. Sokolow was known for her heavy involvement in the Communist movement. In New York's 1936 election, she registered as a Communist. In the 1940s, she was also a featured performer in many Communist rallies. However, by the 1950s, she no longer aligned herself with the Communist party. When questioned by the
FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
, she cited her participation at rallies was motivated by earning money for her performance. Sokolow suffered from depression in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sokolow died at the age of 90, on March 29, 2000, in New York City.


References


Footnotes


General references

* *


External links


Sokolow Theatre/Dance EnsembleSokolow Dance Foundation
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sokolow, Anna American modern dancers Jewish dancers American female dancers Dancers from Connecticut American women choreographers American choreographers 20th-century American Jews 1910 births 2000 deaths Martha Graham Musical theatre choreographers Artists from Hartford, Connecticut Juilliard School faculty