David Wood, 77; Founded Dance Program at Berkeley

David Wood, 77, a former soloist and rehearsal director for the Martha Graham Dance Company who founded the dance program at UC Berkeley, died Sunday of complications from Parkinson’s disease and muscular dystrophy.

Wood danced with Alwin Nikolais, Jose Limon and Doris Humphrey, and appeared on television, in Broadway musicals and with the New York City and Metropolitan operas.

He also created the choreography for the award-winning “Nova” television production “Super Conductivity,” and in 1999 published the book “On Angels and Devils and Stages Between.”

Born in Fresno, Wood graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in psychology in 1945, the same day he entered the Navy. He served briefly during the war on the cruiser Philadelphia and after the service moved to New York City, where he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Wood’s first professional job as a dancer and teacher was with the Tanya Holm company. He joined the Graham company in 1953, and toured with Graham as well as teaching in her school.

In 1968, Wood moved to Berkeley to create the university’s dance program. He also founded the school’s touring dance company, Bay Area Repertory Dance. He retired in 1992.