Research Catalog

Interview with Art Becofsky

Title
  1. Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]
Published by
  1. 1997.
Author
  1. Becofsky, Art

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Details

Additional authors
  1. Kraft, Susan, 1961-
Description
  1. 5 sound cassettes (5.5 hrs.) +
Summary
  1. Cassette 1. Recorded August 12, 1997. Mr. Becofsky describes his background and education in political science; his unexpected decision to work at the Cunningham Dance Foundation; the structure of the Foundation at that time; his increasing interest in and commitment to the Foundation and to the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; the Board of Directors; Jean Rigg's departure; Richard Svare's brief period managing the company; the premiere of Travelogue; Merce Cunningham's decision to disband and then re-form the company to be jointly run by Becofsky and Martha Lohmeyer; first touring experiences; growth of the company in the late 1970s; development of long term residencies and relationships with other theaters; Inlets; the changing lives of dancers and others involved in the company; the stimulating intellectual life of the company in earlier years; John Cage.
  2. Cassette 2. Recorded August 19, 1997. Mr. Becofsky discusses becoming Executive Director of the Cunningham Dance Foundation; structural development and expansion of the company; his deepening commitment to the organization; costume issues in Exchange [Cunningham]; his efforts to create a stable administration and its positive impact on the company; touring England; his developing interest in Asia; introducing Cunningham and Mother Theresa; Cage's changing relationship to the company; the origins and creation of Roaratorio; the Board of Directors; the expansion of the company in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the increasing demands on Cunningham and tensions that developed by the mid 1980s; Mark Lancaster, and the transition to William Anastasi and Dove Bradshaw as artistic advisors; Cunningham's prolific creativity; strategies for coping with the company's expansion; Chris Komar's position as assistant to the choreographer; the development of the Repertory Understudy Group; recent changes in the company; the younger generation of dancers in the company.
  3. Cassette 3. August 19, 1997 continued. Mr. Becofsky discusses formalizing plans for the future of the company; John Cage's death and the impact on Cunningham and the company; the creation of Ocean; Chris Komar's illness.
  4. Cassette 4. Recorded August 26, 1997. Mr. Becofsky discusses the development of Ocean; the creating of a National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant proposal to do long range planning for the company; the strains and challenges caused by receiving this grant; Cage's death early in the grant period and Becofsky's increasing problems running the Foundation during this time; tension with the dancer's union (AGMA); Komar's illness; leaving the Foundation; the impact on him and others; Komar's death; reflecting on his experiences and career; the field of arts administration; new aspects of his work; new models for dance companies.
  5. Cassette 5. August 26, 1997 continued. Mr. Becofsky discusses the development of Art Plus Management Services through which Becofsky advises choreographers and their management; his interest in developing performing opportunities for American dance in Asia; his writing and journal keeping.
Alternative title
  1. Dance Oral History Project.
  2. Dance Audio Archive.
Subject
  1. Cunningham, Merce
  2. Cunningham, Merce > Roaratorio
  3. Anastasi, William, 1933-2023
  4. Cunningham, Merce > Inlets
  5. Cunningham, Merce > Travelogue
  6. Cunningham, Merce > Exchange
  7. Merce Cunningham Dance Company
  8. Bradshaw, Dove
  9. Repertory Understudy Group
  10. Cage, John
  11. Audiotapes > Becofsky, A
  12. Cunningham Dance Foundation
  13. Rigg, Jean
  14. Komar, Chris
  15. Lancaster, Mark
  16. Arts > Management
  17. American Guild of Musical Artists
  18. National Endowment for the Arts > Challenge Grant Program
Call number
  1. *MGZTC 3-2111
Note
  1. For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2111.
  2. Interviewed by Susan Kraft, August 1997, at the Dance Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Access (note)
  1. Permission required from interviewee.
  2. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
Author
  1. Becofsky, Art. Interviewee
Title
  1. Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]
Imprint
  1. 1997.
Access
  1. Permission required from interviewee.
Local note
  1. Preservation master cassette: *MGZTCO 3-2111.
  2. Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2111.
Restricted access
  1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
Connect to:
  1. Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material
Local subject
  1. Audiotapes -- Becofsky, A.
Added author
  1. Kraft, Susan, 1961- Interviewer
Research call number
  1. *MGZTC 3-2111 (sound cassette)
  2. *MGZMT 3-2111 (transcript)
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