247:"He arrived in black tights and a leotard, with a fierce archaic face mask painted on his face, and whispered to us to kill all the lights: house lights, stage lights, everything. I noticed he was in toe shoes. Then I stood silent, in awe of what was about to happen — something sacred and diabolical all at once. Freddie had an antique wall sconce with a mirror, the kind that used to hold a candle, and he lit the taper he had placed in it. And in that dark and suddenly silent theatre with his back to the audience, he began laboriously and slowly to go down one side aisle of the theatre, across the front below the proscenium, and up the other side. En pointe. The only music was the sound of his deliberately exaggerated and labored breathing. And the slow scraping of his toe shoes on the rough floor. The light, the flickering light of the candle reflected his painted face in the mirror in his hand...He was gone again before any of us could move."
279:. Herko emerged from the bath and went into the living room where he toweled off. He then began dancing naked, and according to Dodd, "occasionally making a run toward the windows." At the time, Dodd wondered whether this was going to be the "suicide performance" that Herko had been promising his friends during the weeks prior: "It was obvious that Freddy had to do it now: The time and the place were right, the decor was right, the music was right." As the music climaxed, Herko leapt through the open window landing five flights down below.
271:. Dodd invited Herko to his apartment a few blocks away on Cornelia Street. Dodd later said Herko told him he hadn't taken any drugs for three days. According to Dodd, after arriving at his apartment, Herko went straight into his bathroom where he drew a bath, poured a bottle of Dodd's perfume into it and began to bathe. Meanwhile, Dodd had put on a record of
224:
usage and subterranean habits — "mole because they were known to be tunneling towards some greater insanity that no one but this inner circle was aware of" — members of this group performed their manias and drug routines in a life/art blurring spectacle in crash pads and stages throughout the city.
282:
After Herko's death, Di Prima went to
Deborah Lee's apartment where some of Herko's things were stored. "She and I went through it together. Black velvet was everywhere. Many shards of mirrors. Magick wands made out of old bedposts. Feathers. Lace. Broken statuary. Scraps of fabric, or carpet.
240:. He was "crying because autumn always made him sad." Later he told di Prima that "He needed speed to push his body so he could dance the way he wanted to. He felt otherwise he didn't have a chance; he had come to dancing too late in life to make it work for him."
127:, then moved to Brooklyn. When Herko was age 2, 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
255:
By late 1964, Herko had begun behaving erratically due to an addiction to amphetamines and was homeless. He also suffered from pain in his ankles, impairing his ability to dance. Photographer and
Factory regular
283:
Everything thick with some dark energy. There was one whole attaché case of male pornography carefully cut out of magazines as if for use in collage. On the floor in his room, there was a book by
260:
later said that he felt Herko became despondent over his inability to dance as well as he had before. He said “Freddie was a very demanding person about life. It had to be great.”
811:
141:. Herko soon decided to pursue a career as a ballet dancer. When Herko told his parents of his decision, his “macho, working-class” father became enraged and beat him.
846:
836:
821:
786:
150:
96:
287:, open at the page where the king leaps into the sea, where the ritual to renew the world is described. It was the closest we found to a suicide note."
165:. In the late 1950s, he was a regular member of James Waring's dance company and danced with Katherine Litz and Aileen Passloff. He was a member of the
831:
801:
806:
791:
699:
826:
796:
727:
672:
631:
598:
567:
536:
505:
470:
816:
33:
115:(February 23, 1936 – October 27, 1964) was an American artist, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer and teacher.
123:
Born in New York City, Herko's father was a diner manager and his mother was a homemaker. The family first lived on the
276:
154:
781:
652:
237:
841:
776:
315:
305:
166:
750:
723:
719:
713:
695:
668:
664:
627:
623:
594:
590:
584:
563:
559:
553:
532:
528:
522:
501:
268:
656:
615:
438:
169:, contributing two pieces to the group's inaugural concert on July 6, 1962. He performed in
158:
138:
128:
92:
386:
124:
367:
170:
153:(now known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School). He studied classical ballet under
755:
396:
229:
209:
205:
770:
657:
616:
687:
284:
162:
225:
They are best remembered for their roles in many of Warhol's experimental films.
376:
264:
221:
213:
178:
257:
217:
131:
and planned to be a concert pianist. In 1954, Herko attended a staging of
746:
133:
32:
272:
16:
American artist, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer and teacher
471:"Fred Herko: the life and dramatic death of an avant-garde hero"
761:
341:, Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, New York (January 18, 1964)
267:
saw Herko wildly dancing on the counter at Joe's
Dinette in
236:. She met him in 1954 as he sat on a bench in the rain in
204:
Herko was associated with a group of habitués to Warhol's
220:. Nicknamed "mole people" on account of their intensive
715:
Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years
586:
Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years
555:
Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years
524:
Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years
389:, A Concert of Dance #8, Judson Church (June 25, 1963)
379:, A Concert of Dance #7, Judson Church (June 24, 1963)
498:
335:
Performance at 28 Bond Street (December 13–14, 1963)
312:
Once or Twice a Week I Put on
Sneakers To Go Uptown
102:
88:
78:
62:
39:
23:
149:Herko soon earned a four-year scholarship to the
243:Di Prima describes Herko's elegiac performance
694:London: Allen Lane. March 5, 2020.
8:
383:Another Letter to the Sun (for Charles Ives)
324:Cleanliness Event with Poo-Poo Cushion Music
137:and became fascinated with the Russian lead
464:
462:
31:
20:
812:Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School alumni
647:
645:
643:
458:
157:and took additional dance classes with
718:(1 ed.). Viking Adult. pp.
589:(1 ed.). Viking Adult. pp.
558:(1 ed.). Viking Adult. pp.
527:(1 ed.). Viking Adult. pp.
232:, who writes of him in her biography
7:
847:20th-century American ballet dancers
837:Suicides by jumping in New York City
659:Factory Made: Warhol and the Sixties
618:Factory Made: Warhol and the Sixties
234:Recollections of my Life as a Woman
106:Ballet dancer, choreographer, actor
822:People associated with The Factory
614:Watson, Steven (October 1, 2003).
14:
787:20th-century American male actors
712:DiPrima, Diane (April 19, 2001).
622:(1 ed.). Pantheon. pp.
583:DiPrima, Diane (April 19, 2001).
552:DiPrima, Diane (April 19, 2001).
521:DiPrima, Diane (April 19, 2001).
296:Original dances (incomplete list)
113:Frederick Charles "Freddie" Herko
663:(1 ed.). Pantheon. p.
469:Teeman, Tim (October 23, 2014).
446:The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys
191:The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys
351:The Palace of the Dragon Prince
832:People from Ossining, New York
802:American ballet choreographers
500:. Serpent's Tail. p. 62.
358:Performances (incomplete list)
151:American Ballet Theatre School
97:American Ballet Theatre School
1:
807:Dancers from New York (state)
496:Woronov, Mary (May 1, 2000).
792:American male ballet dancers
314:(July 6, 1962) at the first
228:Herko was a close friend of
692:Warhol: A Life as Art
863:
181:'s early films, including
827:Male actors from Brooklyn
797:American male film actors
208:on 47th Street including
30:
817:Juilliard School alumni
410:Jill and Freddy Dancing
44:Frederick Charles Herko
399:(February 17–19, 1964)
238:Washington Square Park
155:Valentina Pereyaslavec
263:On October 27, 1964,
316:Judson Dance Theater
167:Judson Dance Theater
655:(October 1, 2003).
73:New York City, U.S.
57:New York City, U.S.
758:at warholstars.org
332:(June 23–24, 1963)
700:978-0-241-00338-1
477:. theguardian.com
393:Fantastic Gardens
330:Binghamton Birdie
306:Maidman Playhouse
269:Greenwich Village
110:
109:
54:February 23, 1936
854:
762:freddieherko.com
734:
733:
709:
703:
685:
679:
678:
662:
649:
638:
637:
621:
611:
605:
604:
580:
574:
573:
549:
543:
542:
518:
512:
511:
493:
487:
486:
484:
482:
466:
418:, also known as
319:Concert of Dance
159:Merce Cunningham
139:Igor Youskevitch
129:Juilliard School
93:Juilliard School
79:Other names
69:
66:October 27, 1964
53:
51:
35:
21:
862:
861:
857:
856:
855:
853:
852:
851:
767:
766:
743:
738:
737:
730:
711:
710:
706:
686:
682:
675:
651:
650:
641:
634:
613:
612:
608:
601:
582:
581:
577:
570:
551:
550:
546:
539:
520:
519:
515:
508:
495:
494:
490:
480:
478:
468:
467:
460:
455:
406:
387:Arlene Rothlein
360:
353:(May 1–2, 1964)
347:(March 5, 1964)
326:(June 10, 1963)
308:(March 5, 1962)
298:
293:
277:Coronation Mass
253:
197:(also known as
183:Haircut (No. 1)
177:and several of
147:
125:Lower East Side
121:
95:
89:Alma mater
83:
74:
71:
67:
58:
55:
49:
47:
46:
45:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
860:
858:
850:
849:
844:
839:
834:
829:
824:
819:
814:
809:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
779:
769:
768:
765:
764:
759:
753:
742:
741:External links
739:
736:
735:
728:
704:
680:
673:
653:Watson, Steven
639:
632:
606:
599:
575:
568:
544:
537:
513:
506:
488:
457:
456:
454:
451:
450:
449:
443:
435:
429:
423:
413:
405:
402:
401:
400:
397:Elaine Summers
390:
380:
370:
359:
356:
355:
354:
348:
342:
336:
333:
327:
321:
309:
297:
294:
292:
289:
252:
249:
230:Diane di Prima
206:Silver Factory
146:
143:
120:
117:
108:
107:
104:
100:
99:
90:
86:
85:
80:
76:
75:
72:
70:(aged 28)
64:
60:
59:
56:
43:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
859:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
803:
800:
798:
795:
793:
790:
788:
785:
783:
782:1964 suicides
780:
778:
775:
774:
772:
763:
760:
757:
754:
752:
748:
745:
744:
740:
731:
729:0-670-85166-3
725:
721:
717:
716:
708:
705:
701:
697:
693:
689:
684:
681:
676:
674:0-679-42372-9
670:
666:
661:
660:
654:
648:
646:
644:
640:
635:
633:0-679-42372-9
629:
625:
620:
619:
610:
607:
602:
600:0-670-85166-3
596:
592:
588:
587:
579:
576:
571:
569:0-670-85166-3
565:
561:
557:
556:
548:
545:
540:
538:0-670-85166-3
534:
530:
526:
525:
517:
514:
509:
507:1-85242-719-1
503:
499:
492:
489:
476:
472:
465:
463:
459:
452:
447:
444:
441:
440:
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
417:
414:
411:
408:
407:
403:
398:
394:
391:
388:
384:
381:
378:
374:
373:All Day Dance
371:
369:
365:
362:
361:
357:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
334:
331:
328:
325:
322:
320:
317:
313:
310:
307:
303:
300:
299:
295:
290:
288:
286:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
261:
259:
250:
248:
246:
241:
239:
235:
231:
226:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
202:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
144:
142:
140:
136:
135:
130:
126:
118:
116:
114:
105:
103:Occupation(s)
101:
98:
94:
91:
87:
82:Freddie Herko
81:
77:
65:
61:
42:
38:
34:
29:
22:
19:
714:
707:
691:
688:Blake Gopnik
683:
658:
617:
609:
585:
578:
554:
547:
523:
516:
497:
491:
479:. Retrieved
475:The Guardian
474:
445:
437:
431:
425:
419:
415:
409:
392:
382:
372:
368:Frank O'Hara
364:Love's Labor
363:
350:
344:
338:
329:
323:
318:
311:
301:
291:Choreography
285:Mary Renault
281:
262:
254:
244:
242:
233:
227:
203:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
175:Love's Labor
174:
171:Frank O'Hara
163:James Waring
148:
132:
122:
112:
111:
84:Freddy Herko
68:(1964-10-27)
18:
842:1964 deaths
777:1936 births
420:Rollerskate
416:Dance Movie
404:Filmography
377:Deborah Hay
265:Johnny Dodd
245:For Sergio:
214:Rotten Rita
199:Dance Movie
195:Rollerskate
179:Andy Warhol
771:Categories
756:Fred Herko
747:Fred Herko
453:References
432:Haircut #2
426:Haircut #1
345:For Sergio
258:Billy Name
218:Billy Name
119:Early life
50:1936-02-23
25:Fred Herko
481:June 11,
591:377–378
339:Dervish
134:Giselle
726:
702:p. 415
698:
671:
630:
626:-172.
597:
566:
535:
504:
448:(1964)
442:(1963)
434:(1963)
428:(1963)
422:(1963)
412:(1963)
273:Mozart
216:, and
210:Ondine
193:, and
145:Career
251:Death
222:speed
751:IMDb
724:ISBN
696:ISBN
669:ISBN
628:ISBN
595:ISBN
564:ISBN
533:ISBN
502:ISBN
483:2020
439:Kiss
302:Edge
187:Kiss
161:and
63:Died
40:Born
749:at
720:402
665:172
624:171
560:331
529:120
395:by
385:by
375:by
366:by
275:'s
201:).
173:'s
773::
722:.
690:,
667:.
642:^
593:.
562:.
531:.
473:.
461:^
304:,
212:,
189:,
185:,
732:.
677:.
636:.
603:.
572:.
541:.
510:.
485:.
52:)
48:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
