Frederick Charles "Freddie" Herko (February 23, 1936 â€" October 27,
1964) was an artist, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer and
teacher.Born in New York City, Herko’s father was a diner manager
and his mother was a homemaker. The family first lived on the Lower
East Side before moving to Brooklyn. When Herko was two years old, the
family settled in Ossining, New York. As a child, Herko exhibited a
talent for music and became a proficient pianist and flautist. Upon
graduating from high school, Herko attended the Juilliard School and
planned to be a concert pianist. In 1954, Herko attended a staging of
Giselle and became fascinated with the Russian lead, Igor Youskevitch.
Herko soon decided to pursue a career as a ballet dancer. Herko’s
biographer Gerard Forde stated that when Herko told his parents of his
decision, his “macho, working-class†father became enraged and
beat him.Herko soon earned a four year scholarship to the American
Ballet Theater School (now known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
School). He studied classical ballet under Valentina Pereyaslavec and
took additional dance classes with Merce Cunningham and James Waring.
In the late 1950s he was a regular member of James Waring's dance
company and also danced with Katherine Litz and Aileen Passloff. He
was a member of the Judson Dance Theater, contributing two pieces to
the group's inaugural concert on July 6, 1962. He performed in Frank
O'Hara's Love's Labor and several of Andy Warhol's earliest films
including: Haircut (No. 1), Kiss, The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys,
and Rollerskate (also known as Dance Movie).
1964) was an artist, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer and
teacher.Born in New York City, Herko’s father was a diner manager
and his mother was a homemaker. The family first lived on the Lower
East Side before moving to Brooklyn. When Herko was two years old, the
family settled in Ossining, New York. As a child, Herko exhibited a
talent for music and became a proficient pianist and flautist. Upon
graduating from high school, Herko attended the Juilliard School and
planned to be a concert pianist. In 1954, Herko attended a staging of
Giselle and became fascinated with the Russian lead, Igor Youskevitch.
Herko soon decided to pursue a career as a ballet dancer. Herko’s
biographer Gerard Forde stated that when Herko told his parents of his
decision, his “macho, working-class†father became enraged and
beat him.Herko soon earned a four year scholarship to the American
Ballet Theater School (now known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
School). He studied classical ballet under Valentina Pereyaslavec and
took additional dance classes with Merce Cunningham and James Waring.
In the late 1950s he was a regular member of James Waring's dance
company and also danced with Katherine Litz and Aileen Passloff. He
was a member of the Judson Dance Theater, contributing two pieces to
the group's inaugural concert on July 6, 1962. He performed in Frank
O'Hara's Love's Labor and several of Andy Warhol's earliest films
including: Haircut (No. 1), Kiss, The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys,
and Rollerskate (also known as Dance Movie).
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