Lawrence, Pauline (1900–1971)

American modern dancer and costume designer. Name variations: Pauline Lawrence Limón or Limon. Born 1900 in Los Angeles, CA; died July 16, 1971, in Stockton, NJ; m. José Limón (dancer and choreographer), 1941 (died 1972).

Worked as musician for Denishawn School in Los Angeles, CA, while also attending dance classes there; served as conductor on vaudeville tour of Doris Humphrey; performed with Denishawn on tour (1923–26), creating roles in Ted Shawn's The Feather of the Dawn (1923), Five American Sketches: Boston Fancy, 1854 (1924), The Bubble Dance (1925), General Wu's Farewell to His Wife (1926), and also in Humphrey's Whims (1926); moved to New York City with Humphrey and Charles Weidman, where she worked as costume designer, pianist, and business manager for NY Denishawn school; continued to work in same capacities for Humphrey/Weidman Concert Group once they separated from Denishawn (1929); created costumes for numerous works by Humphrey including Water Study (1928), Credo (1934), Theater Piece (1936), Race of Life (1938), Four Choral Preludes (1942), Day on Earth (1947), and Ruins and Visions (1953); served as designer and manager for José Limón Co. (as of 1945), creating costumes for his The Moor's Pavanne (1949), La Malinche (1949), The Visitation (1952), There Is a Time (1966), The Winged (1972), and others; with Frances Hawkins, was influential in the organization and unionization of modern dancers (late 1930s).