Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]

Author

Becofsky, Art.

Publication

1997.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Kraft, Susan, 1961-

Description

5 sound cassettes (5.5 hrs.) +

Summary

• Cassette 1. Recorded August 12, 1997. Mr. Becofsky describes his background and education in political science; his unexpected decision to work at the Cunningham Dance Foundation; the structure of the Foundation at that time; his increasing interest in and commitment to the Foundation and to the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; the Board of Directors; Jean Rigg's departure; Richard Svare's brief period managing the company; the premiere of Travelogue; Merce Cunningham's decision to disband and then re-form the company to be jointly run by Becofsky and Martha Lohmeyer; first touring experiences; growth of the company in the late 1970s; development of long term residencies and relationships with other theaters; Inlets; the changing lives of dancers and others involved in the company; the stimulating intellectual life of the company in earlier years; John Cage.
• Cassette 2. Recorded August 19, 1997. Mr. Becofsky discusses becoming Executive Director of the Cunningham Dance Foundation; structural development and expansion of the company; his deepening commitment to the organization; costume issues in Exchange [Cunningham]; his efforts to create a stable administration and its positive impact on the company; touring England; his developing interest in Asia; introducing Cunningham and Mother Theresa; Cage's changing relationship to the company; the origins and creation of Roaratorio; the Board of Directors; the expansion of the company in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the increasing demands on Cunningham and tensions that developed by the mid 1980s; Mark Lancaster, and the transition to William Anastasi and Dove Bradshaw as artistic advisors; Cunningham's prolific creativity; strategies for coping with the company's expansion; Chris Komar's position as assistant to the choreographer; the development of the Repertory Understudy Group; recent changes in the company; the younger generation of dancers in the company.
• Cassette 3. August 19, 1997 continued. Mr. Becofsky discusses formalizing plans for the future of the company; John Cage's death and the impact on Cunningham and the company; the creation of Ocean; Chris Komar's illness.
• Cassette 4. Recorded August 26, 1997. Mr. Becofsky discusses the development of Ocean; the creating of a National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant proposal to do long range planning for the company; the strains and challenges caused by receiving this grant; Cage's death early in the grant period and Becofsky's increasing problems running the Foundation during this time; tension with the dancer's union (AGMA); Komar's illness; leaving the Foundation; the impact on him and others; Komar's death; reflecting on his experiences and career; the field of arts administration; new aspects of his work; new models for dance companies.
• Cassette 5. August 26, 1997 continued. Mr. Becofsky discusses the development of Art Plus Management Services through which Becofsky advises choreographers and their management; his interest in developing performing opportunities for American dance in Asia; his writing and journal keeping.

Alternative Title

• Dance Oral History Project.
• Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Bradshaw, Dove
• Travelogue (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• Inlets (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• Roaratorio (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• Exchange (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• American Guild of Musical Artists
• Cage, John
• Merce Cunningham Dance Company
• Audiotapes > Becofsky, A
• Cunningham Dance Foundation
• Komar, Chris
• Anastasi, William
• Repertory Understudy Group
• Lancaster, Mark
• Arts > Management
• Rigg, Jean
• National Endowment for the Arts > Challenge Grant Program
• Cunningham, Merce

Note

• For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2111.
• Interviewed by Susan Kraft, August 1997, at the Dance Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Access (note)

• Permission required from interviewee.
• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2111

OCLC

NYPY98-R6

Author

Becofsky, Art. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]

Imprint

1997.

Access

Permission required from interviewee.

Local Note

Preservation master cassette: *MGZTCO 3-2111.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2111.

Restricted Access

Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Becofsky, A.

Added Author

Kraft, Susan, 1961- Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2111 (sound cassette)

*MGZMT 3-2111 (transcript)