Ralph McWilliams (June 22, 1926 - June 23, 1981)
was a dancer and stage manager with the American Ballet Theater. McWilliams was known for his versatility at a time when most dancers specialized. His career encompassed ballet, modern dance, musical comedy and television. He danced with Ballet Theater from 1949 to 1952 and again in 1957, when he originated the lead in Donald Saddler's ballet version of
Tennessee Williams's ''This Property Is Condemned.''
Born in Salisbury, Md., McWilliams studied music at the Juilliard School and took private ballet lessons with George Chaffee and Igor Schwezoff. In modern dance, he was the frequent partner of Myra Kinch, on tour and at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. On Broadway, he danced in ''High Button Shoes'' and ''Allegro'' and appeared in Off Broadway and national productions.
Tatiana Grantzeva, Nicholas Polajenko and Ralph McWilliams performed Trio Con Brio. These dancers came together from three different companies in 1952 as part of a touring group assembled by Jacob’s Pillow. Grantzeva had been with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Polajenko had performed with the International Ballet de Marquis de Cuevas, while McWilliams had been with Ballet Theatre. Among the works they performed was Trio Con Brio, a classical showcase created especially for them by Antony Tudor. When it premiered in June of 1952, the choreography was attributed to the fictitious Vispitin, a name concocted by Tudor because this work was so different from his other work. But when it was performed during two additional weeks of the same season, Tudor received credit. More than 60 years later, New York Theatre Ballet revived this ballet from a silent film of the original cast.
by
George Platt Lynes
Paul Cadmus
Portrait of Ralph McWilliams
tempera on paper - 1953
62.2 x 46.4 cm
Private collection
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Paul Cadmus
Seated Dancer (Ralph McWilliams)
tempera on paper - 1953
65,7 x 48 cm
Private collection
From 1966 to 1970, McWilliams was Ballet Theater's stage manager and toured with it in the Soviet Union. He became the Harkness Ballet's stage manager and technical director in 1970, and in 1974, production stage manager for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
His skills as production supervisor were in demand for such galas as the 1973 birthday gala at the Metropolitan Opera House for Sol Hurok, the impresario; the 1972 Public Library Dance Collection gala and the 30th anniversary City Center gala.
Ralph McWilliams died on June 23, 1981, at Lenox Hill Hospital. He was 55 years old.
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