Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Murray, James Briggs
2. Yarborough, Lavinia Williams
3. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Oral History Video Documentation Program

Found in

1. ungc Lavinia Williams oral history collection, with Haitian dance demonstration (CstRLIN)NYPG94-F270.

Description

1. 4 videodiscs (DVD) (92 min.) : sd., col.; 1/2 in.

Summary

1. An interview with Lavinia Williams, Part 1, documents Lavinia Williams' childhood and the beginning of her dance career. The oral history covers her upbringing in Portsmith, Va., private dance classes with a Russian teacher, the family's move to Brooklyn, the various dance schools she attended, and her winning of a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City. Williams explains that as a young artist she went to sketch Von Grona's American Negro Ballet during a rehearsal, was asked to audition, and was assigned the leading role in "Firebird." Williams briefly comments on her career with the American Negro Ballet and her work in Agnes De Mille's production "Obeah."
2. Williams' discussion of her early dance career includes an account of the Katherine Dunham Company. Williams tells of her appointment as a student instructor in charge of choreography. She discusses the shows in which the Dunham dancers performed, the difficulties of being an artist, and the beginnings of the civil rights movement. Williams also discusses the film "Stormy Weather" and her USO tour with Nobel Sissel's of revival of "Shuffle Along." Williams briefly comments on her European experience, her return to America, her appointment in "Show Boat" and "Finian's Rainbow," and her meeting and marrying Shannon Yarborough. Part 1 of the the Lavinia Williams interview ends with Williams commenting on her dance school in Brooklyn, teaching at the Dunham School, and the beginnings her Haiti contract negotiations.

Subject

1. Yarborough, Lavinia Williams -- Interviews
2. Katherine Dunham Company
3. American Negro Ballet Company
4. Stormy weather (Motion picture ; 1943)
5. Choreographers
6. Dance, Black -- History
7. Dance companies -- United States
8. Dance teachers
9. Modern dance
10. African American dancers

Genre/Form

1. Interviews.
2. Oral history.

Call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-213

Note

1. Forms part of the Lavinia Williams oral history collection, with Haitian dance demonstrations.

Terms of use (note)

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography (note)

1. Lavinia Williams was a dancer and a dance teacher She danced leading roles with the Katherine Dunham Company, toured Europe, and was considered a leader in teaching Haitian dance.

Local note

1. Archival original in Sc Visual VRA-38a

Title

1. [An interview with Lavinia Williams] Part 1./ [by James Briggs Murray]

Imprint

1. 7--Sept.--1983.

Terms of use

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography

1. Lavinia Williams was a dancer and a dance teacher She danced leading roles with the Katherine Dunham Company, toured Europe, and was considered a leader in teaching Haitian dance.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Local subject

1. African American dancers.

Added author

1. Murray, James Briggs. Interviewer
2. Yarborough, Lavinia Williams. Interviewee
3. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Oral History Video Documentation Program.

Found in:

1. ungc Lavinia Williams oral history collection, with Haitian dance demonstration (CstRLIN)NYPG94-F270.

Research call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-213
2. Sc Visual VRA-38a [videocassette]