So You Think You Can Dance

September 8, 2009 by studio360blog

Martha Graham sitting in an invisible chair. You'd be intimidated, too. Credit: Sam Falk/The New York Times

Martha Graham. Admit it, you'd be intimidated, too. (Credit: Sam Falk/The New York Times)

Last weekend on the show, we heard from Paulus Berensohn — a sculptor based at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and a man of strong opinions when it comes to things clay. He believes clay is the source of life on this planet, that there is movement everywhere, and that it’s important to understand both principles when taking on the potter’s wheel.

Turns out, Paulus has been dancing even longer than he’s been sculpting. He was in the first group of dancers to attend The Julliard School in 1951, where he studied with Martha Graham, Jose Limon, and others. But before he could dance for them, he had to audition for one heck of a panel. Paulus was an enthusiastic dancer, but let’s just say he was still a diamond in the rough at this point… but he had a plan. And a cape.

Paulus tells the story in this bit of tape left on the cutting room floor:

Listen to the entire AHA moment here:

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Posted in Dance, New York City | Tagged audition, Jose Limon, Julliard, Martha Graham, Paulus Berensohn, pottery | 4 Comments

4 Responses

on September 30, 2009 at 9:06 pm Studio 360: A Potter’s Epiphany | WNYC Culture

[...] Juilliard dance audition in front of Martha Graham, Jose Limon and Anthony Tudor. Listen to it on the Studio 360 blog. Jenny Lawton, Karen Karnes, Paulus Berensohn, Studio [...]
on October 30, 2009 at 11:25 pm Prayer of the Heart

Paulus Berensohn a truly “Beautiful Man”…

please revisit him
ask him to tell
the story of the ‘Beautiful Man’…
on November 3, 2009 at 3:28 am Former Penland Student

I met Paulus years ago, a
when I was a student at Penland. It is such a treat to hear him speak here, as he made a big impression on me. He lives in such a special way, yet is very warm and friendly to so many.
I loved hearing him speak.
He also wrote a best selling Clay Book for universities,
yet is modest in appearance and manner. It is a pleasure to be around him.
Meeting him will always be a special memory of my time at Penland. I wish you the best of everything.
on March 31, 2010 at 11:57 pm Bernie Bernard

Dear Paulus, what a treat to hear your voice again after — what –40 years. You have always been in my heart —– inspiriting me as an artist, painter and the occasional pinch potter. Lucky me to have been with you for a few short years as your student at the Wallingford Arts Center long ago.

Love, Bernie

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