and in October of 1942, she founded the 'School of Ethnologic
Dance Center,' and its performing ensemble of Exotic Ballet. Her
first major work was ''Krishna Gopala,'' presented in 1940 with
St. Denis and Hadassah as guest artists. She taught and performed
with her dance company, the Five Natya's in the 1940's.
La Meri created
and recreated many Ethnic dances such as the Oriental
dances, Chinese, Hindu, Burmese, Polynesian, Indian, Moroccan, Spanish, Guaba's
Journey to Paradise, En Mai Hawaiinuikea, Hymns and Spirituals,
El Amor Brujo etc. and Latin-American dances etc. Is said La Meri
coined the term Ethnic dance. She
used this vast knowledge of dance from around the world to create
a unique dance experience for the audience. She would usually
start of with the Spanish dances, do these for a bit, then switch
to Interpretive dances, then move to the east with such as dances
of the Japanese Geishas and the Court Dances of Javanese. Then
onto the Mexican, Cuban, Peruvian and Argentine dances, etc. It
was almost a lesson in dance history at the same time as well.
Kinda similar in feel to Walt Disney's "Its a Small World
Ride," taking you on a tour of exotic lands and places.
Even tho La Meri's professional training was
Spanish and Mexican (1913-1920,) she would become quite adept
at learning many differnet dances. On her retirement in 1970,
La Meri established Ethnic Dance Arts Inc. in Hyannis, Mass.,
where she presented an annual ethnic dance festival with awards.
She taught widely and lectured on non-Western dance and wrote
many books on dance. Her book ''Spanish Dancing,'' published in
1948, was considered by many to be the definitive text on Spanish
dance. In 1972, La Meri received the Capezio Award.
Lilan 'Lil' Hughes was La Meri's sister, she
died of cancer in January of 1965. She is buried at Arlington
Cemetery. La Meri died in a San Antonio, Texas Hospital in 1988,
she was 89 years old.