Celeste Grynberg Oral History, 2017

Celeste Grynberg, philanthropic patron of dance, was born in Philadelphia to immigrant parents for whom the arts were an important part of life. They loved theatre and music and her mother was a devotee of Isadora Duncan and other modern dancers. Celeste took ballet and tap at “Aunt Millie Sakharov’s” neighborhood dance studio and while she loved to move, she decided to seriously study piano. Celeste, her mother, Aunt Millie and her daughter often went to “the city” to see classical ballet and emerging modern dance groups. Celeste met Anna Sokolow, a friend of Aunt Millie’s, and followed her career for years as Sokolow’s choreographic themes – the Holocaust, poverty, immigration and women’s issues –effected Celeste. While in high school Celeste was a piano student at Tanglewood Music Festival and went to Jacob’s Pillow to watch dance rehearsals and performances. Her school years at Goucher and Bryn Mawr continued to educate and influence her in the world of dance. All of these experiences inspired her to help “bring the joys of dance to many.”