Myra Kinch (1904-1981) was an integral part of Jacob’s Pillow for more than two decades, performing regularly and teaching in the School alongside her husband, composer Manuel Galea. She was born in Los Angeles and studied dance at UCLA, later making her solo debut at Berlin’s Reinhardt Theatre. In the 1930s, she was director and choreographer of the West Coast Dance Project, part of the Federal Theatre Project. During her years at the Pillow, she created a number of works featuring Pillow founder Ted Shawn, including Sundered Majesty, The Bajour, and The Sound of Darkness, and she also choreographed Minuet for Drums for the Jacob’s Pillow Dancers. She is perhaps best known for her dance satires, including Giselle’s Revenge, Tomb for Two, and A Waltz is a Waltz is a Waltz.
Read More
