Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Murray Louis [sound recording]

Author

Louis, Murray.

Publication

1993.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Winer, Arlene.
• Nikolais, Alwin.

Description

1 sound disc (ca. 75 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

Murray Louis speaks about his childhood in New York City; his pleasure in dancing since his earliest years; his frequent attendance at the performances of dancers such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman; Fred Astaire as his ideal; anecdote regarding Fiorello LaGuardia; his introduction to dance as a philosophical concept upon studying with Alwin Nikolais in Colorado Springs; returning to New York City to work with Nikolais at the Henry Street Playhouse; physical condition and history of the Playhouse; the children's division; its popularity in the community; the Playhouse's productions for children; [Nikolais recounts an anecdote regarding a prop]; the Playhouse's neighborhood; more on the children and their curricula; increasing reputation and critical recognition of the school and the Playhouse Dance Company; producing his own work [short gap]; the Playhouse's new focus on Black culture in the 1970s and its effect on the students, especially the African-American students; the children as audiences, including their reaction to Ruth St. Denis; his career after quitting teaching; his feelings about teaching; the changing social role of the Playhouse and Henry Street Settlement as the community changed; Louis's last production at the Playhouse; his and Nikolais' leaving the Playhouse and their subsequent careers as performers and choreographers.

Donor/Sponsor

• National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.
• Oral History Archive.

Subjects

• Audiotapes > Nikolais, A
• Child dancers
• Louis, Murray
• Audiotapes > Louis, M
• Henry Street Playhouse
• Henry Street Playhouse Dance Company
• Dance teachers
• Dance > Social aspects
• Nikolais, Alwin
• Children and dancing
• Henry Street Settlement (New York, N.Y.)

Note

• Interview with Murray Louis conducted by Arlene Winer on Jan. 27, 1993 at Louis's home in New York City. The interview was intended to be part of the Henry Street Oral History Centennial Project. Alwin Nikolais was also present and participated from time to time.

Funding (note)

• Preservation was made possible in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2341

OCLC

NYPY04-R10

Author

Louis, Murray. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Murray Louis [sound recording]

Imprint

1993.

Funding

Preservation was made possible in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Local Note

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-2341

Preservation master: *MGZTP 4-2341

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-2341

Local Subject

Children and dancing.

Audiotapes -- Louis, M.

Audiotapes -- Nikolais, A.

Added Author

Winer, Arlene. Interviewer

Nikolais, Alwin. Interviewee

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2341