Ron Protas

Ronald Allen Protas (September 2, 1941 – October 15, 2025) was an associate director of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and heir of modern dance choreographer Martha Graham, his friend of twenty-odd years. In her will, she left him the rights to her dances. Though not a dancer, he took over the Martha Graham Dance Company until its board dismissed him, leading to an extended legal battle over the ownership of Graham's work which was eventually resolved in the company's favor.

Background Ronald Allen Protas was born in Manhattan, New York, on September 2, 1941, and was brought up in Brooklyn, where he was educated Erasmus Hall High School. He subsequently attended New York University.

Legal battle In her autobiography Blood Memory Martha Graham writes that she trained Protas in her dance technique and named him as heir upon her death, intending to will him the rights to all of her dances. Protas was never trusted by many within Graham's company.

Later life and death After losing in court, Protas struggled financially and sold many of the valuables that Graham had also bequeathed him. The Graham Center later made overtures to license the two of Graham's works that Protas retained the rights to, but he refused. He died from heart disease at his residence in Manhattan on October 15, 2025, at the age of 84.