Doris Niles

Doris Niles (née Jones; May 20, 1905 – November 15, 1998)[1][2] was an American dancer.

Doris Niles at Radio City, 1930 (NYPL b12145900-5238038)
Doris Niles
Doris Niles, from a 1922 issue of Broadway Brevities
Born
Doris Jones

(1905-05-20)May 20, 1905
DiedNovember 15, 1998(1998-11-15) (aged 93)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationDancer
Years active1921-1961
Spouse(s)Serge Leslie

Early life

Niles was born in Redlands, California, the daughter of banker Charles R. Jones.[3][4] Her younger sister Cornelia Niles also pursued a dance career, and taught dance at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.[5]

Career

When she was 17 years old, Niles was hired as a dancer at the Capitol Theatre in New York City. She soon specialized in "exotic" dances meant to evoke Asian cultures, in spectacles choreographed by Alexander Oumansky. She and her sister danced recitals together in 1926-1927,[6] including two at Carnegie Hall.[7][8] At 22, she went to Spain, to study Spanish dance. She soon performed for King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.[9] Though her company toured in the United States in 1928-1929,[10][11] she stayed mainly in Europe, performing and learning until 1940, when the hazards of World War II sent her home to the United States.[12] In 1928 she wrote a syndicated series of essays that appeared in American newspapers, "How to Grow Graceful".[13]

She continued working as a dancer and teaching dance, mainly in Los Angeles, until her retirement after 1961.[14][15] In 1963 she choreographed a production of Turandot for the Redlands Bowl.[16] She was admired for her beauty and extravagant costumes as well as for her dance steps.[17]

Dance library

Niles and her husband collected an extensive library of books on dance. They sold the collection in 1971 to a library in Stuttgart.[18]

Personal life

Niles married her dance partner, fellow American Willis "Serge" Leslie, in 1930, in Paris.[19][20]

She died in Santa Paula, California in 1998, aged 94 years.[21]

Publications

  • A bibliography of the dance collection of Doris Niles & Serge Leslie, 1966

References

  1. "Doris Niles - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909". FamilySearch. 9 August 1926.
  2. "Doris Niles - New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909". FamilySearch. 24 August 1928.
  3. "Ebell Books Doris Niles" Los Angeles Times (September 28, 1941): C5.
  4. "Artists Formerly of San Bernardino" San Bernardino County Sun (June 23, 1928): 17. via Newspapers.com
  5. Karen Bell-Kanner, Frontiers: The Life and Times of Bonnie Bird, American Modern Dancer and Dance Educator (Routledge 2013): 10. ISBN 9781134423385
  6. "Doris Niles Gives Program of Dances" Boston Daily Globe (March 22, 1927): 8.
  7. "Niles Sisters in Solo Dances" New York Times (December 2, 1926): 24.
  8. "Nileses Give a Recital" New York Times (February 2, 1927): 22.
  9. "Dances for Royalty" Salt Lake Telegram (July 8, 1928): 19. via Newspapers.com
  10. "Doris Niles, Famous Spanish Dancer, Appears Next Friday" Atlanta Constitution (January 13, 1929): 12.
  11. "Doris Niles, Young American Dancer, Will Appear Here" Bismarck Tribune (February 14, 1929): 15. via Newspapers.com
  12. Betty Luerssen, "Costumes, Programs Salvaged By Continental Dance Couple" Christian Science Monitor (April 6, 1949): 14.
  13. Doris Niles, "Balance is Grace" Post-Crescent (December 26, 1928): 8. via Newspapers.com
  14. "Doris Niles Appealing in Dances" Los Angeles Times (May 11, 1953): B8.
  15. "On, Off Stage" San Bernardino County Sun (July 27, 1961): 18. via Newspapers.com
  16. "Doris Niles Sets Ballet for Bowl" San Bernardino County Sun (August 29, 1963): 21. via Newspapers.com
  17. "Duo Charms with Dances" Los Angeles Times (October 3, 1941): 17.
  18. Martin Bernheimer, "Stuttgart Buys L.A. Dance Library" Los Angeles Times (June 4, 1971): A7.
  19. "Native Daughter is Married in France" San Bernardino County Sun (May 31, 1930): 13. via Newspapers.com
  20. "Dance Pair Win Favor" Los Angeles Times (October 22, 1941): A10.
  21. Myrna Oliver, "Doris Niles; American Concert and Ballet Dancer" Los Angeles Times (November 26, 1998).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.