Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Dorothy Alexander. January 2, 1976, 1976.

Author

Alexander, Dorothy, 1904-1986

Publication

1976

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Hering, Doris

Description

6 sound discs (approximately four hours and 12 minutes) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Disc 1 (approximately 46 minutes), Dorothy Alexander speaks with Doris Hering about what it means to function creatively, in particular with reference to her early work, Crystal; sharing artistic creativity; more on her solo Crystal; at Hering's request, Alexander speaks about various objects in her living room and how they relate to her life; the Georgia Power Company tour including her ballet Design for love; ballets for children; her awards [ends abruptly but continues on disc 2].
• Disc 2 (approximately 51 minutes). Dorothy Alexander continues to speak with Doris Hering about the awards she has received; her joy in dancing since childhood; her family background; her serious illnesses; [Hering speaks about Alexander's work with the regional ballet movement]; her reasons for becoming a dance teacher; her local performances; her marriage; the formation of her company Dorothy Alexander Concert Group [renamed the Atlanta Civic Ballet and later, the Atlanta Ballet] dancing as a guest artist; completing her college education while performing and teaching; more on her teaching and her students [ends abruptly but continues on disc 3].
• Disc 3 (approximately 41 minutes). Dorothy Alexander continues to speak with Doris Hering about her students; her thoughts on having children dance in professional performances; how to define the word "professional"; more on her teaching including working with boys compared with girls; teaching dance in public schools [gap from approximately 26:11 - 26:44]; Alexander speaks about her own teachers; anecdotes about the DM of A [Dance Masters of America, Inc.]; studying with Bronislava Nijinska at Jacob's Pillow; studying with Michel Fokine in New York [ends abruptly but continues on discs 4].
• Disc 4 (approximately 50 minutes). Dorothy Alexander speaks with Doris Hering about studying with Irma Duncan including her thoughts on the Duncan style of dancing; other types of dance and schools where she studied including the Sadler's Wells Ballet School; her experience at Hanya Holm's school in Colorado Springs; her impression of Anna Pavlova; reasons she never wanted to dance with a large company like the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; her perspective on the relationship between modern dance and ballet; her study of tap dancing; Tatiana Chamié; Vera Volkova; various sources of inspiration for her choreography; her thoughts on faith [ends abruptly but continues on disc 5].
• Disc 5 (approximately 47 minutes). Dorothy Alexander speaks with Doris Hering about Edwin Strawbridge; her views on opera ballets; the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; financial aspects of her company [Dorothy Alexander Concert Group; renamed the Atlanta Civic Ballet and later, the Atlanta Ballet] including her reluctance to accept private donations; her choreography including her last work, Soliloquy; her work Southern accent and other works that included social satire; her choices of music; her ballets Woman in war and Green altars [ends abruptly but continues on disc 6].
• Disc 6 (approximately 17 minutes). Dorothy Alexander speaks with Doris Hering about people who have been important to the company [Atlanta Ballet] and school; Robert Barnett, the current director of the Atlanta Ballet; the apprentice company; regional ballet in the United States including how she first became involved in its development and the crucial role Hering has played in its success; her thoughts on dance in the United States including the compensation of dancers and the emphasis on technique.

Alternative Title

Dance Oral History Project.

Subjects

• Music and dance
• Atlanta Civic Ballet
• Dorothy Alexander Concert Group
• Alexander, Dorothy, 1904-1986
• Audiotapes > Alexander, D
• Dance teachers
• Dance > Study and teaching
• Atlanta Ballet
• Strawbridge, Edwin

Note

• Interview with Dorothy Alexander conducted by Doris Hering at Alexander's home in Atlanta, Georgia on January 2, 1976 for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division's Oral History Project.
• Title supplied by cataloger.
• Sound quality is good overall. The recording is marred by extraneous noise including "tape hiss" and occasional short gaps. However the speakers' voices are easily audible.

Funding (note)

• The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-346

OCLC

78332135

Author

Alexander, Dorothy, 1904-1986, interviewee.

Title

Interview with Dorothy Alexander. January 2, 1976, 1976.

Production

1976

Type of Content

spoken word

Type of Medium

audio

Type of Carrier

audio disc

Event

Recorded by Doris Hering. Based on the handwritten notes on the original containers of the archival original sound reels held by the Library, the Library's archival original sound reels were copied from sound cassettes recorded by Hering. 1976, January 2 Atlanta (Ga.).

Funding

The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.

Original Version

Original format: two sound reels (approximately four hours and 12 minutes); 5 inches; polyester, half-track; 1 7/8 ips.; transferred to wav file and compact disc formats in 2013. Based on the handwritten notes on the original containers of the archival original sound reels held by the Library and used for preservation of this recording in digital format, the Library's archival original sound reels were copied from sound cassettes.

Local Note

For transcript of interview: see *MGZMT 5-346

Former classmark: *MGZT 5-346

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Added Author

Hering, Doris, interviewer.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-346