In 1991, she successfully sued the National Endowment for the Arts over
the anti-obscenity clause in grant contracts, arguing that artists
ought to have the right to produce work that may be viewed by some as
obscene.
In 1951, she was subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities
Committee to answer questions about possible communist activities in
the arts. "I'm a dancer, not a singer," she replied.
She was a dancer, choreographer, and a teacher.
She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1996 by the
National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.