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Boston Globe
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Carla Maxwell, keeper of the José Limón flame, dies at 79
Like Martha Graham, Limón was the star dancer and principal choreographer of his namesake troupe. Appraisals after his death recalled the brooding charisma and moral certitude of his stage presence and ranked him as one of America's greatest choreographers. What was the Limón company without its creator and guiding force? Advertisement 'We not only had to prove that we could survive,' Ms. Maxwell said in the 2001 documentary 'Limón: A Life Beyond Words.' 'We had to prove that José's work was worth maintaining.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Ms. Maxwell, who had joined the company as a dancer in 1965, made her argument through action. Preserving company staples while also regularly reviving neglected or lost Limón works and importing and commissioning works by other choreographers, she attracted dancers, audiences, and funders. This became a model for other companies, including Graham's, after their founders died. Born in Mexico to parents who migrated to Los Angeles, Limón was the protege of choreographer Doris Humphrey, who, alongside Graham, had emerged from the school and company of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. Limón became the lead male dancer of the company that Humphrey shared with Charles Weidman, and when he decided to found his own troupe, in 1946, he took the unusual step of asking Humphrey to serve as artistic director. Advertisement The Limón group performed both her works and his. After her death in 1958, Limón took over as director. Ms. Maxwell, at the José Limón Dance Company's studio in New York in 2001. ANDREA MOHIN/NYT Ms. Maxwell first saw Limón perform in the early 1960s, when she was a student at the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College. 'I was thunderstruck,' she said in an episode of the public television program 'Eye on Dance' in 1982. 'These were mature people onstage, not kids doing tricks.' She was attracted to that maturity, and to Limón's humanist ideals. 'I try to compose works that are involved with man's basic tragedy and grandeur of his spirit,' he wrote in a 1966 credo. He believed, he said, that 'the artist's function is perpetually to be the voice and conscience of his time.' Limón's choreographic attention to architectural form and his dance technique, derived from Humphrey's principles of weight, fall, and recovery, also drew her. After Ms. Maxwell's first year at Juilliard, where Limón was on the faculty, he asked her to join his company. She excelled in roles including Emilia in 'The Moor's Pavane,' Limón's signature retelling of 'Othello.' In a review in The New York Times, Don McDonagh noted 'the genuine bite in her acid-etched rendering.' In 'Dances for Isadora,' Limón created the tempestuous solo 'Maenad' for Ms. Maxwell. For his final work, 'Carlota,' about the empress of Mexico, he gave Ms. Maxwell the title role. Clive Barnes, reviewing it in the Times, praised the 'poignant madness' of her portrayal. Advertisement After Limón's death, 'there was the feeling that if we disbanded, these works would disappear,' Ms. Maxwell told 'Eye on Dance.' Because little of his work had been filmed, she said, 'it was only in our bodies.' A State Department-sponsored tour of the Soviet Union, booked before Limón's death, helped keep the group together. Then Ruth Currier, a former member of the company, was asked by the dancers to become artistic director. It was Currier who began importing work by other choreographers such as Kurt Jooss and Murray Louis. When she resigned in the middle of 1977, Ms. Maxwell became acting artistic director; she officially took over in December 1978. Continuing to perform until 2007, she attracted and nurtured several generations of dancers, among them Roxane D'Orléans Juste, Kristen Foote, and Logan Frances Kruger. Under her guidance, the company, which removed 'José' from its name in the mid-1980s, celebrated its 40th-, 50th-, 60th- and 70th-anniversary seasons. When she retired in 2016, she was succeeded by a former company member, Colin Connor. Dante Puleio is the current director. 'There came a point, and it was pretty soon, when I had to say that I was not minding the store for somebody else,' Ms. Maxwell told the Times in 2003. 'Would José like this? I don't know. I hope so. I'm not doing it because I'm trying to please him. I'm trying to honor what I feel is the vision he set and see where it could go.' Carla Lena Maxwell was born Oct. 25, 1945, in Los Angeles. Her father, Robert Maxwell (born Max Rosen), was a classically trained prodigy on the harp whose renditions of his own pop and jazz arrangements made him one of the top supper-club attractions of the 1940s. Carla and her sister, Paula, joined their mother, Victoria, on their father's frequent tours. Advertisement 'I was a kind of trunk baby,' Ms. Maxwell said on 'Eye on Dance.' 'Until I was about 8, I didn't know any other children except my sister.' When she was 8, her family decided to settle down in Larchmont, N.Y. That same year, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance gave a class at her elementary school. 'It was so exciting because we were flying around,' she told the Times in 1990. 'It was something that felt natural. I got hooked.' At the National Music Camp, she studied with Joe Gifford and Martha Whitman, who had worked with Humphrey. She attended Bennington College in Vermont, which had a storied dance department, for one year and then transferred to Juilliard. She finished her studies while a member of the Limón company. In 1969, when the Limón troupe was on a five-month break, Ms. Maxwell and her Limón colleague Clyde Morgan, her husband, made a self-sponsored tour of Africa, performing works by Morgan. After she and Morgan divorced, Ms. Maxwell was briefly married to Frank Barth when he was the Limón company manager in the 1980s. No immediate family members survive. Maxwell was honored with a New York Dance and Performance Award, known as a Bessie, in 1998 for 'finding a creative present in the context of a revered past.' 'Because the path was difficult and nothing was laid out, we had to find it ourselves,' she told the Times of her mission with the Limón company. 'I think we discovered that we were there for much more than José. Of course we loved him and his work, but there's a whole aesthetic, a technique, a philosophy.' Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Toronto Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
AP PHOTOS: Mexican flags at LA protests spark debate over symbolism
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ——— Over the last week, a sea of green, white and red Mexican flags have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids. The use of Mexican and other Latin American flags during the protests are a form of symbolism many conservatives are calling anti-American — while others argue they're an expression of pride in one's homeland that could not be more American. Whether it be U.S., Mexican or Palestinian flags, the banners reflect a nation of immigrants whose stories have become intertwined with the story of America, experts say. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Kris Hernández, an associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said the flying of foreign flags in the U.S. has always brought awareness to the plight of marginalized groups. Their appearance in the latest protests might symbolize solidarity with their native land or social movements that support Americans of Mexican descent, she said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that those flying Mexican flags at immigration protests were left-wing radicals that attacked law enforcement agents 'removing violent, criminal illegal aliens from the city.' And even fierce Trump critic Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Democrat, expressed his displeasure with the display of non-American flags at immigration protests that have spread to other states. 'Peaceful protests are fine. Violence is not and will only destroy your message,' Kinzinger wrote on X. 'American flags or nothing.' Amid the backlash, many Americans who support the right to protest are encouraging demonstrators to protest against immigration policies with the American flag instead of a foreign one, as way of reclaiming the U.S. flag for all who call the U.S. home. This underscores just how influential the American flag can be, Hernández said. 'What we are seeing ... is that people don't like to see some flags over others,' she said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Some Latino activists say the Mexican flag is being used by people who were in this land before it was part of the United States. California was part of Mexico until the 1800's. Many Mexican Americans are descendants of people who never crossed a border — instead the border crossed them. Still, their display of the Mexican flag at protests is being twisted into something it's not, said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Hector E. Sanchez, president and CEO of 'Mi Familia Vota,' a non-profit focused on mobilizing Latino voters, said Mexicans have been at the forefront of attacks when it comes to immigration — attacks heightened during both of Trump's campaigns. Sanchez said he wonders why it's not called anti-American when some Americans fly Confederate flags next to the U.S. flag. 'We see a lot of flags celebrating cultural history and heritage,' he said. 'Why is it that the Mexican community is constantly under attack?'
Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
AP PHOTOS: Mexican flags at LA protests spark debate over symbolism
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ——— Over the last week, a sea of green, white and red Mexican flags have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids. The use of Mexican and other Latin American flags during the protests are a form of symbolism many conservatives are calling anti-American — while others argue they're an expression of pride in one's homeland that could not be more American. Whether it be U.S., Mexican or Palestinian flags, the banners reflect a nation of immigrants whose stories have become intertwined with the story of America, experts say. Kris Hernández, an associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said the flying of foreign flags in the U.S. has always brought awareness to the plight of marginalized groups. Their appearance in the latest protests might symbolize solidarity with their native land or social movements that support Americans of Mexican descent, she said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that those flying Mexican flags at immigration protests were left-wing radicals that attacked law enforcement agents 'removing violent, criminal illegal aliens from the city.' And even fierce Trump critic Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Democrat, expressed his displeasure with the display of non-American flags at immigration protests that have spread to other states. 'Peaceful protests are fine. Violence is not and will only destroy your message,' Kinzinger wrote on X . 'American flags or nothing.' Amid the backlash, many Americans who support the right to protest are encouraging demonstrators to protest against immigration policies with the American flag instead of a foreign one, as way of reclaiming the U.S. flag for all who call the U.S. home. This underscores just how influential the American flag can be, Hernández said. 'What we are seeing ... is that people don't like to see some flags over others,' she said. Some Latino activists say the Mexican flag is being used by people who were in this land before it was part of the United States. California was part of Mexico until the 1800's. Many Mexican Americans are descendants of people who never crossed a border — instead the border crossed them. Still, their display of the Mexican flag at protests is being twisted into something it's not, said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Hector E. Sanchez, president and CEO of 'Mi Familia Vota,' a non-profit focused on mobilizing Latino voters, said Mexicans have been at the forefront of attacks when it comes to immigration — attacks heightened during both of Trump's campaigns. Sanchez said he wonders why it's not called anti-American when some Americans fly Confederate flags next to the U.S. flag. 'We see a lot of flags celebrating cultural history and heritage,' he said. 'Why is it that the Mexican community is constantly under attack?' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Mexican flags at LA protests spark debate over symbolism
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. ——— Over the last week, a sea of green, white and red Mexican flags have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids. The use of Mexican and other Latin American flags during the protests are a form of symbolism many conservatives are calling anti-American — while others argue they're an expression of pride in one's homeland that could not be more American. Whether it be U.S., Mexican or Palestinian flags, the banners reflect a nation of immigrants whose stories have become intertwined with the story of America, experts say. Kris Hernández, an associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said the flying of foreign flags in the U.S. has always brought awareness to the plight of marginalized groups. Their appearance in the latest protests might symbolize solidarity with their native land or social movements that support Americans of Mexican descent, she said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that those flying Mexican flags at immigration protests were left-wing radicals that attacked law enforcement agents 'removing violent, criminal illegal aliens from the city.' And even fierce Trump critic Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Democrat, expressed his displeasure with the display of non-American flags at immigration protests that have spread to other states. 'Peaceful protests are fine. Violence is not and will only destroy your message," Kinzinger wrote on X. "American flags or nothing.' Amid the backlash, many Americans who support the right to protest are encouraging demonstrators to protest against immigration policies with the American flag instead of a foreign one, as way of reclaiming the U.S. flag for all who call the U.S. home. This underscores just how influential the American flag can be, Hernández said. 'What we are seeing ... is that people don't like to see some flags over others,' she said. Some Latino activists say the Mexican flag is being used by people who were in this land before it was part of the United States. California was part of Mexico until the 1800's. Many Mexican Americans are descendants of people who never crossed a border — instead the border crossed them. Still, their display of the Mexican flag at protests is being twisted into something it's not, said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Hector E. Sanchez, president and CEO of 'Mi Familia Vota,' a non-profit focused on mobilizing Latino voters, said Mexicans have been at the forefront of attacks when it comes to immigration — attacks heightened during both of Trump's campaigns. Sanchez said he wonders why it's not called anti-American when some Americans fly Confederate flags next to the U.S. flag. 'We see a lot of flags celebrating cultural history and heritage,' he said. 'Why is it that the Mexican community is constantly under attack?'
Fast Company
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Fast Company
Aurora borealis forecast: Northern lights may be visible in 13 states tonight. Here's the best time to see them
If you missed the northern lights, or aurora borealis over the past weekend, you're in luck—you may have a second chance tonight, Monday, June 2, when they may be visible for a second night in a row in some U.S. states across the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the next possibility of viewing is Monday night into early Tuesday, with the most intense activity across Canada and Alaska and the northern U.S. states. This aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of blue, green, and purple in the sky. This year's increased solar activity is likely the result of an 11-year sun cycle peaking through October. Where and when will the northern lights be visible tonight? While NOAA predicts Alaska is the best U.S. state to potentially view the aurora tonight, 'The other states that are best positioned are the northern Midwest states from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan,' Alex Gianninas, an astronomy professor at Connecticut College told Newsweek.
