Woman dancing outside the courthouse

Originally published Saturday, January 8, 2000

By AMY E. NEVALA
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A red-faced woman throttling a traffic ticket stalks from Burien's Southwestern District Court, foul language oozing like hot tar from pinched lips.

She is just the type of person artist Phillip Levine hoped to calm with his sculpture, the Dancer, positioned outside the courthouse doors.

"A court is not always the most friendly place," said Levine, 68. "I wanted to create something warm."

Although both feet are on the ground, the slender arms of this gentle-looking bronze woman flex in a ballet pose, fingers curved, right arm stretched skyward.

She sways impressive hips to a silent tune ("Jailhouse Rock?"). Her enigmatic smile is cousin to the famous mug on Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."

The Dancer was commissioned by the King County Public Art Program and installed in 1979. Levine said he wanted to create a simple, timeless piece for the 601 S.W. 149th St. location that would not change with fads.

He dressed the 5-foot-2-inch, 150-pound figure in a long dress or skirt. His work often possesses a "certain ambiguity," Levine said. "There is no sense to what type of clothes she's wearing."

Born in Chicago, educated at the University of Washington and now living four blocks outside Burien, the artist has devoted his career to sculpture.

Among his other works, Dancer with Flat Hat can be seen at Schmitz Hall on the University of Washington campus, and Triad at 300 Elliott Ave. W.

Though it was not the sedative a huffy traffic ticket-holder needed to soothe her seemingly unsuccessful visit to the court, The Dancer

has touched a few other hearts in her time.

"People take care of our little lady," said Teresa, a clerk at the courthouse. "A couple of winters ago someone put a hat, scarf and gloves on her."