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Topic: AM SESSION: History of MN dance / where do the records live?
Replies: 3   Pages: 1   Last Post: May 26, 2005 2:06 PM by: Charles Thorstad

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MN Dance Gathering

Posts: 37
Registered: Apr 7, 2005
AM SESSION: History of MN dance / where do the records live?
Posted: May 15, 2005 4:36 AM
  Reply

QUESTION 1: HOW CAN WE CHRONICLE THE HISTORY OF DANCE IN THIS COMMUNITY? (convened by ?; session merged with...)

QUESTION 2: WHERE DO ALL THE DANCE ORG RECORDS LIVE? WHERE WILL THEY GO? (convened by Barbara Bezat)

SUMMARY: report by Barb Bezat

1) What are the problems of chronicling the dance history of Minnesota
2) Some desired outcomes (including huge, big ideas)
3) Future actions and next steps

Problems:
So much has already been lost, so much is buried, where is it?

Discussion:
· The history of dance in Minnesota is a super rich history.
· Jason and Dave talked about recognizing the history of hip hop and merging it into the broader dance community
· You can move forward if you know what’s behind you.
· We don’t want to lose what has gone before.
· Funding

Long-term desired Outcomes:
· Minnesota Museum of Dance -- A central place for dance history in Minnesota; a free-standing destination for exhibits, libraries. A place to disseminate and copy the information and make it available.
· A huge annual celebration of dance and of dance history and re-commissioning old works.

Action steps:
1. Use the Dance Educators Coalition listserve as a communication device, for example to collect published materials about Minnesota dance history and written by Minnesota dancers (via Colleen Callahan)
2. Meet again this summer at the Performing Arts Archives at the University of Minnesota (where Barb Bezat works)
3. Create an anthology of dance history in Minnesota


SESSION NOTES

So much has been already lost.
· Idea: A National Museum of Dance here in Minnesota
· Colleen gives background of last year’s session – space of her own; clean out basements; dancers/ choreographers/ etc. complete bios/timelines
· Accomplished: Judith Mirus did a book on Loyce Houlton which was never published. It was a strong history of Loyce and the local dance history. Are seaching for publisher; also Colleen has photos.
· Scrapbook and old videos (Perpich Center has made CD; originals went to NYIL
· Dance Educators’ Coalition did a workshop on history of German dance in Minnesota
· Jason and Dave are working to get recognition for hip hop as its own dance form. Hip hop history isn’t being preserved. Are already doing workshops (U of Mn, community and schools); need venue for hip hop dance in Twin Cities; have to do cabarets (ie., Balls)

Desired Outcomes:
· Find people who could author histories of dance in Minnesota – an anthology of Minnesota dance history
Ask dance community folks to write their own bios.
Jason is ready to take the next steps to be recognized within the dance community – what are those steps?
· Colleen will use the Dance Educators Coalition listserve as a communication resource; would donate MN website links
· Start meeting as a group. Barbara Bezat will host first meeting in Summer 2005
· Central clearinghouse of information (National Museum of Dance) - one place for all of this – standing free – a destination (for exhibits, library)
· Get linked to network of service/funding organizations
· Educate – knowledge of hip hop’s hidden history becomes common knowledge (parallel to tap dance history)
· opportunities for more workshops – history classes in schools elsewhere
· Mary Jo offers to assist people organize
· Panel of experts in specific styles to consult (board of advisors for archives)
· Disseminate/copy this heritage – make it available all over the place
· Funding to commission old work for current performances
· A celebration of dance – history & new artists – a history of dance in Minnesota
· “You can move forward if you know what is behind you.” Don’t want to lose what’s gone before: innovators, whatever people are doing needs to be preserved; want to go back to look at what’s been done because it can inform what dance artists do now.

Questions:
· Where’s the best place to house things?
· What are possible places for this? Who could own this space?
· How do we connect the resource people?
· How do you fund them?
· How do you get the word out?


colleen callahan

Posts: 1
From: Southwest High
Registered: May 22, 2005
Re: AM SESSION: History of MN dance / where do the records live? *
Posted: May 22, 2005 6:44 AM
  Reply

Update on this topic from last time and ongoing progress of chronicling the history of dance in Mn. (especially modern dance). Since the first Open Space at the Barker, good things have been unearthed. Judith Mirus has sent me her copy of Loyce Houlton's autobiography which is as of yet unpublished. I am in discussion with Lisa Houlton and have found a private party that would like to work on getting it published. It's an amazing read about Loyce's roots in Mn., her intersection with lots of the major pioneers and the early history of modern dance and ballet in the Twin Cities. Judith also gave me old accordian photos of Mary Wigman(4 books worth) that came from the estate of Margret Dietz and now we (Tom Kanthak)have those on CD rom and the originals given to the New York Public Library. Dance Educator's Coaltion also did a workshop on "The German Tradition in Mn. Modern Dance" inviting Molly Lynn, Heidi Jasmin, and students of Margret Dietz
on the panel. The workshop is publicized on our web page www.pconline.com/~dec
which unearthed lots of new information on Margret Dietz and her amazing contribution. This workshop was videotaped and resides with DEC.
Current activity is happening in the area of seeking out those writings that have already happened in Mn by or about Mn dancers to see what has been chronicled, and how we can move towards a document of sorts that actually represents the History of Dance in Mn.

Judith Brin Ingber

Posts: 10
Registered: May 29, 2003
Re: AM SESSION: History of MN dance / where do the records live? *
Posted: May 23, 2005 11:15 AM
  Reply

hi Colleen, this is the first time I'm using this system but I was glad to read about what you brought up and also what you have written following the big dance meeting I was so sorry to have missed. I'm sure if Barb Bezat was present it came up that many of Loyce's papers are at the U of M performing arts. I remember when they were all brought over to the temporary terrible building that housed the collection, near to where Gertrude Lippincott lived. you well knew that house, too.
Gertrude Lippincott's papers are all at the MN Historical society, or I guess we're supposed to call it the MN History Center now. I split up the duplicates of her materials between three sites: the Dance Division of the New York Public Library at the performing arts library at Lincoln Center; the Univ of MN performing arts library; and the MN History Center. They gave me the directive that I should make a basic guide to a dancer's career, not just the specifics of Lippincott's life work because the History Center (all her programs, her articles, her notebooks, photos, 10 complete costumes, also) --with the idea that this would become the basis for future MN dancers' papers. They have always been interested in that, so I hope with this piece of information made public, this can go into everyone's consciousness. Hopefully their MN dancers' holdings can be increased.
How great Judith Mirus is proceeding with the bio of Loyce! It would make perfect sense to have the History Center publish it! I don't know anyone there, but Lisa First's husband is somehow connected, I believe. I also did an oral history of Loyce for the Dance Division of the New York Public library at Lincoln Center's performing arts library, so that exists, too. Can't remember if she put restrictions on it or not.
anyway, I'm glad to know you keep all this present. Best, Judith

Charles Thorstad

Posts: 6
From: Minneapolis
Registered: Oct 26, 2004
Re: AM SESSION: History of MN dance / where do the records live? *
Posted: May 26, 2005 2:06 PM
  Reply

For Bboying, I have the contacts for Breakdance History as well as documentation.

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