ZOETE, Beryl Drusilla de (B. Dr. de Sélincourt). London ?.7.1879 — London 4.3.1962. British Ballet Dancer, Dance Teacher, Dance Critic and Dance Researcher, also a Translator. Born in a family of distant Dutch descent, daughter of Edward Frank de Zoete and Drusilla Kent. Studied English at Somerville College, Oxford, graduated 1901. She worked as dance teacher concentrating on eurhytmics. Travelled much, in Europe and North Africa, in Bali and South Asia. Married 1902 Basil de Sélincourt (1876–1966), a critic and essayist, separated after a few years (1908). Later she had a life-long relation with the Sinologist Arthur Waley (1889–1966), beginning from 1918.
Publications: With W. Spies: Dance and Drama in Bali. 20+343 p. L. 1937.
– The Other Mind. A Study of Dance in South India. 256 p. 40 pl. L. 1953.
– Dance and Magic Drama in Ceylon. 237 p. L. 1957.
– The Thunder and the Freshness: the collected essays of Beryl de Zoete. 160 p. L. 1963.
Sources: *M. Ury, “Some Notes Toward a Life of B. de Z.”, Journal of the Rutgers Univ. Libraries 48, 1986-87, 1-54; www.schreibfrauen.at/beryl-de-zoete/; Wikipedia.
Last Updated on 2 weeks by Admin
