Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Mary Wigman

Role / Field:

Pioneering German choreographer of expressionist dance and movement therapy.

Born:

1886-11-13

Died:

1973-09-18

Century / Era:

1886s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Mary Wigman (born Karoline Sophie Marie Wiegmann; 13 November 1886 – 18 September 1973) was a German dancer and choreographer who pioneered expressionist dance, dance therapy, and movement training without pointe shoes. She is considered one of the most important figures in the history of modern dance. She became one of the most iconic figures of Weimar German culture and her work was hailed for bringing the deepest of existential experiences to the stage. Karoline Sophie Marie Wiegmann was born in Hanover, Province of Hanover in the Kingdom of Prussia.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Wiegmann was the daughter of a bicycle dealer. Already as a child, she was called Mary, "because the Hanoverians were once kings of England and the House of Welf pride never quite got over the decline of the Kingdom of Hanover to a Prussian province. Wigman spent her youth in Hanover, England, the Netherlands and Lausanne. Wigman came to dance comparatively late after seeing three students of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, who aimed to approach music through movement using three equally important elements: solfège, improvisation and his own system of movements—Dalcroze...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aleksei Kruchyonykh — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): Radical Russian Futurist poet, artist, and theorist, inventor of 'zaum' nonsense poetry.
• Alexander Ostrovsky — Contemporary (Died in 1886) (1886): Master of Russian Realism, Ostrovsky built the national dramatic repertoire.
• Alfonso López Pumarejo — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): Colombian politician and economist, known for progressive reforms and serving two non-consecutive presidential terms.
• A. S. Neill — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• AC/DC — Contemporary (Born in 1973) (1973): Iconic Australian hard rock band known for raw, high-energy 'rock and roll'.
• Abraham Flexner — Shared historical date (11-13 · Born) (1866): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Shared historical date (11-13 · Died) (2014): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (09-18 · Born) (1752): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Agnes de Mille — Shared historical date (09-18 · Born) (1905): Pioneering American choreographer known for blending ballet with modern dance.
• 1886 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1886
• November 13 (11-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 13
• 1973 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1973
• September 18 (09-18) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 18

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Wigman