Walter Terry
Walter Terry was a prominent American dance critic, author, and educator, born in New York City in 1913. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina in 1935 and began his career as a dance critic for the Boston Herald in 1936. After a brief interruption for military service during World War II, where he served in Africa and the Middle East, he returned to New York, becoming a notable critic for the New York Herald Tribune. Over his twenty-year tenure, he wrote extensively on dance and continued contributing to other publications, including the World Journal Tribune and the Saturday Review.
In addition to his critical writing, Terry was an educator, teaching dance at various institutions, including Yale University and American University in Cairo. He authored over twenty books on dance, exploring topics ranging from influential figures to comprehensive guides on major ballets. His work in the field earned him significant recognition, including honors from the Danish monarchy and the Capezio Dance Award. Terry’s influence extended beyond writing, as he participated in lectures and radio programs, shaping the discourse on dance throughout his career.
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Walter Terry
- Born: May 14, 1913
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
- Died: October 4, 1982
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Walter Terry was born in New York City in 1913. He attended the University of North Carolina, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1935. Terry also studied dance privately as preparation for a career as a dance critic. In 1936, he joined the staff of the Boston Herald as a dance critic, remaining there until 1939, when he returned to his native New York City to serve as dance critic and editor for the New York Herald Tribune. Terry’s career was briefly interrupted during World War II, when he joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. He served in Africa and the Middle East, earning the rank of master sergeant.
Upon his return to the United States, Terry resumed his position with the New York Herald Tribune, where he spent the next twenty years writing his dance reviews. In 1966, Terry spent a year writing for New York City’s World Journal Tribune, which was followed by a sojourn as the dance critic and editor of the Saturday Review. Outside of his work as a critic, Terry also taught dance at various institutions, including Adelphi College; American University in Cairo, Egypt; South Connecticut State College; and Yale University. Although he was an esteemed dance critic and teacher, Terry’s own performances were limited to dancing with a student company at the University of North Carolina and as the lead dancer in a production of Rose Marie in Cairo.
Terry authored more than twenty books on dance during his lifetime, including The Legacy of Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis (1959), The King’s Ballet Master: A Biography of Denmark’s August Bourbonville (1979), and Ballet Guide: Background Listings, Credits, and Descriptions of More than Five Hundred of the World’s Major Ballets (1976). He wrote a number of biographies of famous dancers, as well as instructional books and examinations of the history of ballet. He also contributed to a variety of encyclopedias and periodicals, including The Dance Encyclopedia, Dancing Times, Dance Magazine, and Ballet Annual. Additionally, he served as the dance editor for Encyclopedia Britannica, conducted weekly radio programs, and wrote scripts for a number of television shows. Terry frequently appeared on college campuses throughout the United States and abroad, where he lectured on topics relevant to dance. Terry obtained a number of honors for his contributions to dance and literature, most notably being elected a knight of the Order of Dannebrog by Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II and receiving the prestigious Capezio Dance Award.