The first of our Spring Oral History Project interviews was just recorded and it was a true breath of fresh air. On March 19 and 26, 2012, Eva Yaa Asantewaa sat down to interview Marya Warshaw.

Eva Yaa Asantewaa and Marya Warshaw in the LPA Oral History Recording Studio. (Photo by Susan Kraft)Warshaw has been the Executive/Artistic Director of BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange (formerly The Gowanus Arts Exchange) since its founding in 1991. In 1998, BAX received a "Bessie" Award for its innovative work creating a house and a true home for the arts in Brooklyn. You can read about Yaa Asantewaa’s take on her experience at this writer’s fascinating blog.

The staff of the Oral History Project has been producing in-depth dance related oral history interviews since 1974, seeking to record and preserve stories that might otherwise go untold. Our mission is to add to the existing primary source documentation available in an art form which, by its very ephemeral nature, is challenging to preserve and study. We record oral histories with dancers, choreographers, scholars, administrators and designers. You can check out our links to descriptions of over 400 oral histories.

We loved the opportunity to document Warshaw’s work because BAX has been such a unique and vital force in the life of so many dance artists throughout New York City. As the Coordinator of the Oral History Project, I welcome your suggestions of people in the dance community who you would like to see as participants in our Project—it might be your favorite dancer, or a choreographer that you would love to know more about. We are also particularly interested in senior members of the dance community or those whose stories might be at risk in some way.

Perhaps you are aware of an unsung dance hero?

Marion Morgan Dancers in Helen of Troy , Digital ID y99f338_006, New York Public LibraryI look forward to hearing from you!