Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Oct. 15?, 1976 [sound recording]

Author

Robbins, Jerome

Publication

[ca. 1976]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Jowitt, Deborah
• Taylor, Theodore, 1921-2006.

Description

2 sound discs (ca. 92 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Audiotapes > Robbins, J
• Watermill (Choreographic work : Robbins)
• Robbins, Jerome > Interviews
• Dances at a gathering (Choreographic work : Robbins)
• Styne, Jule, 1905-1994

Note

• Recording contains two unrelated interviews conducted ca. Oct. 15, 1976. For the first (disc 1), the interviewer is dance critic Deborah Jowitt. For the second (disc 2), the interview was probably conducted by Theodore Taylor for his book Jule: the story of composer Jule Styne (New York: Random House, 1979).
• Disc 1 (ca. 62 min.) Jerome Robbins and Deborah Jowitt discuss Mikhail Baryshnikov's dancing; the effect of the presence of "superstar" dancers on a dance company; Robbins discusses his preference for viewing rehearsals instead of live performances; his direction of dancers; his education via the musical theater; his various interests, including Noh theater and how those interests influence his choreography; his inspiration for the ballet Watermill (1972); his work with American Theatre Laboratory (1966-1968); versions of his ballets including Fancy free, Interplay and Moves as performed by various dance companies; his decision to stop dancing in ballet; Edward Villella's dancing in Watermill; Robbins' assets as a ballet dancer; more on his experience with American Theatre Laboratory and then returning to work in ballet; the genesis of his ballet, Dances at a gathering (1969); his working relationship with George Balanchine; Balanchine's choreography; his ability to choreograph for large casts; Robbins' difficulty choreographing for large groups of dancers; ballet's effect on the audience; dance's position in the cultural hierarchy; his reservations about giving interviews; choreography as a job.
• Disc 2 (ca. 30 min.) In an interview concerning musical theater composer Jule Styne, Robbins discusses Styne's decision to include a ballet in the show High button shoes (1947); his collaboration with Styne on the music and what is was like to work with Styne; Styne's creative process [interruption]; interviewer discusses the structure of the book; Robbins discusses Styne's effort to reduce tension during rehearsals with humor and pranks; interviewer comments on Styne's admiration of Robbins' work; Robbins comments on his personal relationship with Styne; closing comments on Styne's personality and love of life; [ends abruptly; remainder of disc (ca. 12 min.) is blank.]

Access (note)

• Permission required.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Source (note)

• WNET/13

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3079 JRC

OCLC

NYPT03-R25

Author

Robbins, Jerome, interviewee.

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. Oct. 15?, 1976 [sound recording]

Imprint

[ca. 1976]

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Access

Permission required.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Local Note

For transcript of disc 2 see *MGZMT 3-3079 JRC. The transcript was created by WNET/13 in connection with the documentary: Jerome Robbins: Something to dance about.

For Taylor's book, Jule see JNE 80-20.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-3079 JRC

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3079 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3079 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3079 JRC

Source

Transcript Gift; WNET/13, 2008. NN-PD

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Robbins, J.

Added Author

Jowitt, Deborah, interviewer.

Taylor, Theodore, 1921-2006.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3079 JRC