Erick Hawkins' (April 23, 1909 - November 23, 1994) was an American dancer and choreographer. Born in Trinidad, Colorado a graduate of Harvard. Erick was inspired by the dancing of Harald Kreutzber and Yvonne Georgi. In the 1930's he was the first American student of George Balanchine. He became a soloist and the first male dancer in Martha Graham's dance company. Hawkins and Graham lived together for eight years, but soon after marrying the relationship fell apart. The influence of her work on Hawkins is legendary. In 1951 Hawkins, interested in the new field of kinesiology, opened his own school and developed his own technique ('Hawkins Technique') a forerunner of somatic dance techniques. His known style was a strong and commanding one and he believed that movement could be beautiful and enjoyable for its own sake. In contrast to Graham technique, the movement is not bound but very free and flowing creating certain aesthetics only found in Hawkins Technique. The movement is also very organic and natural, building on Erick's belief of letting the movement take the body through three dimensional space. is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... A contemporary dancer rehearsing in a dance studio Dance generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. ... Choreography (also known as dance composition) is the art of making structures in which movement occurs, the term composition may also refer to the navigation or connection of these movement structures. ... Trinidad is a city located in Las Animas County, Colorado. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... George Balanchine (January 9 (O.S.) = January 22 (N.S.), 1904–April 30, 1983) was one of the 20th centurys foremost choreographers, and one of the founders of American ballet. ... For the supercentenarian, see Martha Graham (supercentenarian). ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up kinesiology in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Hawkins intensely believed in the beauty and power of live music in the theater. His company always performed to live music usually composed and performed by Lucia Dlugoszewski. In 1951 he opened his own school of dance at 78 Fifth Avenue, New York City. In 1966 his company included Dena Madole, James Tyler, Barbara Roan and Kelly Holt.

Erick Hawkins is known as one of the revolutionary pioneers of radical modern dance through his original choreography and evolution of a new theory and technique of modern dance. He collaborated with artists such as Isamu Noguchi, Helen Frankenthaler and Ralph Dorazio. One of his most beautiful works was entitled “Cantilever” and also “Early Floating”. Mr. Hawkins championed the role of men in dance.

In his own words he said, “Once the dance of men in our theatre is not partial, piecemeal, a triviality…mere adjunct to the display of women’s charm, it would be honored and would be a worthy vocation among all of men’s worthy vocations.” Another beautiful quote by Erick Hawkins: “Dance is the most beautiful metaphor of existence in the world.”

Erick Hawkins died of prostate cancer on November 23, 1994 in New York City. This article is about the state. ...