Research Catalog

Title

Murray Louis interview [videorecording] : Oral history interview, Oct. 23, 1996 / produced and interviewed by Barbara Hayley.

Publication

c1996.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Louis, Murray.
• Hayley, Barbara.

Description

4 videodiscs (NTSC) (115 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

Disc 1 includes a discussion with Murray Louis about his philosophy pertaining to teaching and choreographing, the development of his choreography, his childhood, meeting Alwin Nikolais (Nik), his first experience at the Henry St. Playhouse, the influence of Fred Astaire, and his relationship with Hanya Holm and Gladys Bailin. Disc 2 includes a discussion of Mr. Nikolais' development of abstraction, his abstract performing vocabulary, his motional quality of dance that was developed from his technique, Nikolais' ability to critizice dance and choreography, Mr. Louis' becoming head of the Childrens program in 1951 where he learned that abstraction was inherent and created the term unique gesture. Disc 3 includes a discussion of Mr. Louis performing as a dancer and the Nikolais works that made his reputation, Nikolais' training and works for the Henry St. Settlement, the early joint concerts for students including the works Forest of three and Village of whispers, the first program for the Nikolais company with the choreographic works Noumenon and Tensil involvement, the debut of Nikolais' Kaleidoscope in 1956, Nikolais' choreographic works that inspired Murray Louis including Kaleidoscope, Prism, Allegory, Totem, and Imago, and Mr. Louis' debut of Journal in 1957. Disc 4 includes a discussion of mime, comparisons of Murray Louis to Marcel Marceau, collaborating with Rudolf Nureyev, why he stopped performing solos within his group works and began performing separate solo works, his choreographic works Junk dance, Camera, Deja vu, and the two choreographic works he is currently working on for the upcoming Joyce Theater season, and concludes with his relationship with Alwin Nikolais, how Murray Louis needed five years away from the company to deal with Nik's death, and the solo homage to Nik entited, Alone.

Subjects

• Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Company
• Video
• Louis, Murray
• Choreography > 21st century
• Henry Street Settlement (New York, N.Y.)
• Nikolais, Alwin
• Imago (Choreographic work : Nikolais)
• Journal (Choreographic work : Louis)
• Junk dances (Choreographic work : Louis)
• Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-1993
• Kaleidoscope (Choreographic work : Nikolais)
• Dance > Technique
• Déjà vu (Choreographic work : Louis)
• Henry Street Playhouse Dance Company
• Prism (Choreographic work : Nikolais)
• Nikolais Dance Theatre
• Totem (Choreographic work : Nikolais)
• Interviews
• Bailin, Gladys

Genre/Form

• Video.
• Dance.
• Interviews.

Note

• Oral history of six Alwin Nikolais Dancers, Henry St. Playhouse Dance Company, 1948 to 1960s: Gladys Bailin, Phyllis Lamhut, Murray Louis, Coral Martindale, Beverly Schmidt (Blossom), Dorothy Vislocky.

Credits (note)

• Videography by Dennis Diamond and Michael P. Hesse (Video D Studios) ; video dubbing, titling and credits by Sheldon Jones and Derek Toten.
• Research assistance: Susan Kraft, Monica Moseley, Madeleine Nichols, Charles Perrier, Pat Rader of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, and Murray Louis and Frank Garcia, the Nikolais Louis Archives.

Event (note)

• Videotaped during interview at the Nikolais Louis dance studio, on Oct. 23, 1996.

Funding (note)

• This project was made possible, in part, with funding by the Newcomb College Foundation, Tulane University Senate Committee on Research, and Georges Lurcy Charitable and Educational Trust.

System Details (note)

• DVD.

Source (note)

• Barbara Hayley.

Contents

Disc 1 (ca. 31 min.) -- Disc 2 (ca. 29 min.) -- Disc 3 (ca. 30 min.) -- Disc 4 (ca. 24 min.).

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5601

OCLC

639573038

Title

Murray Louis interview [videorecording] : Oral history interview, Oct. 23, 1996 / produced and interviewed by Barbara Hayley.

Imprint

c1996.

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

System Details

DVD.

Event

Videotaped during interview at the Nikolais Louis dance studio, on Oct. 23, 1996.

Credits

Videography by Dennis Diamond and Michael P. Hesse (Video D Studios) ; video dubbing, titling and credits by Sheldon Jones and Derek Toten.

Research assistance: Susan Kraft, Monica Moseley, Madeleine Nichols, Charles Perrier, Pat Rader of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, and Murray Louis and Frank Garcia, the Nikolais Louis Archives.

Performer

Interviewee, Murray Louis ; interviewer, Barbara Hayley.

Funding

This project was made possible, in part, with funding by the Newcomb College Foundation, Tulane University Senate Committee on Research, and Georges Lurcy Charitable and Educational Trust.

Source

Gift; Barbara Hayley. NN-PD

Added Author

Louis, Murray. Interviewee

Hayley, Barbara. Interviewer

Hayley, Barbara. Donor

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5601