Interview with Art Becofsky
- Title
- Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]
- Published by
- 1997.
- Author
Items in the library and off-site
Displaying all 6 items
Status | Vol/date | Format | Access | Call number | Item location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Status Not available - Please for assistance. | Vol/datereel 5 | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZTC 3-2111 [sound cassette] reel 5 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Status Not available - Please for assistance. | Vol/datereel 4 | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZTC 3-2111 [sound cassette] reel 4 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Status Not available - Please for assistance. | Vol/datereel 3 | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZTC 3-2111 [sound cassette] reel 3 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Status Not available - Please for assistance. | Vol/datereel 2 | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZTC 3-2111 [sound cassette] reel 2 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Status Not available - Please for assistance. | Vol/datereel 1 | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZTC 3-2111 reel 1 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Status Available by appointment at Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance | Vol/date | FormatAudio | AccessPermit needed | Call number*MGZMT 3-2111 | Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance |
Details
- Additional authors
- Description
- 5 sound cassettes (5.5 hrs.) +
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Dance Oral History Project.
- Dance Audio Archive.
- Subject
- Cunningham, Merce
- Cunningham, Merce > Roaratorio
- Anastasi, William, 1933-2023
- Cunningham, Merce > Inlets
- Cunningham, Merce > Travelogue
- Cunningham, Merce > Exchange
- Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- Bradshaw, Dove
- Repertory Understudy Group
- Cage, John
- Audiotapes > Becofsky, A
- Cunningham Dance Foundation
- Rigg, Jean
- Komar, Chris
- Lancaster, Mark
- Arts > Management
- American Guild of Musical Artists
- National Endowment for the Arts > Challenge Grant Program
- Call number
- *MGZTC 3-2111
- Note
- For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2111.
- Interviewed by Susan Kraft, August 1997, at the Dance Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
- Access (note)
- Permission required from interviewee.
- Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
- Author
- Becofsky, Art. Interviewee
- Title
- Interview with Art Becofsky [sound recording]
- Imprint
- 1997.
- Access
- Permission required from interviewee.
- Local note
- Preservation master cassette: *MGZTCO 3-2111.
- Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2111.
- Restricted access
- Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
- Connect to:
- Local subject
- Audiotapes -- Becofsky, A.
- Added author
- Kraft, Susan, 1961- Interviewer
- Research call number
- *MGZTC 3-2111 (sound cassette)
- *MGZMT 3-2111 (transcript)