Ballerina. A modern dance pioneer, she was a principal performer for 20 years as well as a noted choreographer and teacher. Born Ruth Miller she trained in New York with dancer Jose Limon and choreographer Doris Humphrey prior to joining Limon's ensemble in 1949. Over the years she was to be her teacher's co-star in numerous productions and was to create the female leads in "There Is a Time" (1956) and the 1958 "Missa Bovis". Ruth was to have the first of her roughly 50 choreographic projects in 1955 with "The Antagonists" and following Humphrey's death in 1958 was to earn praise for finishing "Brandenberg Concerto No. 4". Also in 1958 she started her own Ruth Currier Dance Company which she ran while continuing to appear with Limon. Begining in the late 1960s she was artist-in-residence at Ohio State University for five years but following Limon's 1972 death she was called back to New York to take over direction of the group. Remaining until 1978 she was to see the ensemble become one of the few modern dance troupes to survive the demise of its founder; after retiring Ruth was to stay in New York and to be a respected teacher with the Limon Institute and, at various times, the Juilliard School, Sarah Lawrence College, Bennington College, and her own company. At her death the Jose Limon Dance Company remained in operation.
Ballerina. A modern dance pioneer, she was a principal performer for 20 years as well as a noted choreographer and teacher. Born Ruth Miller she trained in New York with dancer Jose Limon and choreographer Doris Humphrey prior to joining Limon's ensemble in 1949. Over the years she was to be her teacher's co-star in numerous productions and was to create the female leads in "There Is a Time" (1956) and the 1958 "Missa Bovis". Ruth was to have the first of her roughly 50 choreographic projects in 1955 with "The Antagonists" and following Humphrey's death in 1958 was to earn praise for finishing "Brandenberg Concerto No. 4". Also in 1958 she started her own Ruth Currier Dance Company which she ran while continuing to appear with Limon. Begining in the late 1960s she was artist-in-residence at Ohio State University for five years but following Limon's 1972 death she was called back to New York to take over direction of the group. Remaining until 1978 she was to see the ensemble become one of the few modern dance troupes to survive the demise of its founder; after retiring Ruth was to stay in New York and to be a respected teacher with the Limon Institute and, at various times, the Juilliard School, Sarah Lawrence College, Bennington College, and her own company. At her death the Jose Limon Dance Company remained in operation.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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