Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Rod Rodgers [sound recording]

Author

Rodgers, Rod A.

Publication

1993.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Sunshine, Louise.
• DHCA

Description

5 sound cassettes (6 hr., 15 min.) +

Summary

• Cassette 1. Recorded Aug. 12, 1993. Mr. Rodgers discusses his parents (who were dancers) and the types of opportunities open to black performers in their time; his early experiences touring and performing in a family act; his piece Inventions; moving from Detroit to Monroe, Michigan; his observations of contemporary dance trends; the influence of teachers Hanya Holm and Norma Carter on his work; another teacher, Vera Embree; and other influences in the 1950's and 1960's.
• Cassette 2. Recorded Aug. 13, 1993. Mr. Rodgers discusses the All city high school dance group; Norma Carter; technique and choreography; Hanya Holm; his first experiences in New York; his ideas about teaching; early presentations of his choreography; seeing Erick Hawkins perform; studying with Hawkins; and Mary Anthony.
• Cassette 3. Mr. Rodgers discusses his work in the 1960's and 1970's; theater director Woodie King; studying the teaching of children with Bonnie Bird; early community work with the Mobilization for Youth dance project as a part of the "war on poverty"; repertory as a vehicle for training dancers; his choreographies Dances in projected space and Percussion suite; his working process; his current company; the history of his studio; learning Flickers from Charles Weidman; and plans for his company and school.
• Cassette 4. Recorded Sept. 2, 1993. Mr. Rodgers discusses the 25th anniversary of his company; issues in community outreach; his choreographies Victims and Box 71; his thoughts on dance criticism; recent performance trends, particularly homoeroticism; other pieces in his company's repertory including Arena and Columbus encounters; his tours to Africa, Syria, and Portugal and the varying responses of different cultures to his work; his piece Intervals.
• Cassette 5. Mr. Rodgers discusses his feelings about touring, running a company and presenting work in a difficult economic climate.

Alternative Title

• Dance Oral History Project.
• Dance Audio Archive.

Subject

• Holm, Hanya, 1893-1992
• Hawkins, Erick
• Anthony, Mary
• Weidman, Charles
• Rod Rodgers Dance Company
• Mobilization for Youth, inc
• Dances in projected space (Choreographic work : Rodgers)
• Flickers (Choreographic work : Weidman)
• Box '71 (Choreographic work : Rodgers)
• Dance > Economic aspects > United States

Note

• Interviewed by Louise Sunshine at the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
• For transcript see *MGZMT 3-1841.

Access (note)

• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Call Number

*MGZMT 3-1841

OCLC

NYPY96-R12

Author

Rodgers, Rod A. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Rod Rodgers [sound recording]

Imprint

1993.

Local Note

Preservation master cassette in: *MGZTCO 3-1841.

Archival transcript in: *MGZMTO 3-1841.

Restricted Access

Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Local Subject

Homosexuality and dance.

Added Author

Sunshine, Louise. Interviewer

DHCA

Research Call Number

*MGZMT 3-1841 [Transcript]

*MGZTC 3-1841 [Cassette]