Born: 1 May 1906, United States
Died: 1 February 2004
Country most active: United States
Also known as: May Green
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
1906, May 1 Born, Sacramento, Calif.
1928 Began dance training with Michio Ito and Estelle Reed in San Francisco, Calif.
1929-1931 Performed with Estelle Reed’s dance company
1932-1938 Member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Appeared in Heretic, Primitive Mysteries, Celebration, Course, Chronicle
1937 Premieres of Dance Energies and Of Pioneer Women
1938 Married composer Ray Green (died 1997). Moved to San Francisco, Calif.
1939 Co-founded San Francisco Dance Theatre with Ray Green and choreographer Gertrude Shurr
1939-1942 Concerts in San Francisco and on tour with José Limón. Co-choreographed Three Inventories of Casey Jones and This Story Is Legend with Limón. Choreographed Cornerstone
1943 Premiere of Suspension, with original music by Ray Green and set mobile by artist Claire Falkenstein. Co-founded Shurr-O’Donnell Dance Studio, New York City
1944-1952 Guest artist with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Created roles of Pioneer Woman in Appalachian Spring and Attendant in Heriodiade in 1944. Created roles of She of the Earth in Dark Meadow and the Chorus in Cave of the Heart in 1946
1945 Joint performance programs with Nina Fonaroff. Joint performance programs with Erick Hawkins. Choreographed two solos, Running Set and Theme and Variations, with music by Ray Green
1946 Choreographed Horizon Song, with music by Ray Green
1949 Premiere of Celtic Ritual, with music of Henry Cowell
1952 Premiere of The Queen’s Obsession, based on Macbeth (later revised)
1954 Premieres of Dance Concerto and Incredible Adventure
1956 Premiere of Illuminations, with music from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
1959 Premiere of Dance Energies
1959-1961 Summer teaching engagements and performances at University of California
1961 Company performances with Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Retired from performing
1974 Founded May O’Donnell Concert Dance Company
1980 Premiere of Homage to Shiva with traditional music
1984 Premiere of Powers of Ten
1988 Premiere of Etudes and Scherzos
1993 Last concert performance by her company
2002 Awarded Martha Hill Lifetime Achievement Prize
2004, Feb. 1 Died, New York City