Research Catalog

Interview with Robert Swinston

Title
  1. Interview with Robert Swinston [sound recording]
Published by
  1. 1997.
Author
  1. Swinston, Robert.

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Available by appointment at Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance

Vol/datereel 3FormatAudioAccessUse in libraryCall number*MGZTC 3-2118 [sound cassette] reel 3Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance
StatusVol/datereel 2FormatAudioAccessUse in libraryCall number*MGZTC 3-2118 [sound cassette] reel 2Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance
StatusVol/datereel 1FormatAudioAccessUse in libraryCall number*MGZTC 3-2118 [sound cassette] reel 1Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance
StatusVol/dateFormatAudioAccessSupervised useCall number*MGZMT 3-2118 [transcript]Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance

Details

Additional authors
  1. Kraft, Susan, 1961-
Description
  1. 3 sound cassettes (3.5 hr.) +
Summary
  1. Cassette 1. Recorded October 20, 1998 in Mr. Swinston's office at the Cunningham Studio. Mr Swinston discusses his background and early interest in sports; other personal characteristics that influenced his dancing; transferring from Middlebury College to New York University; Jean Erdman; experiencing a variety of dance techniques; attending Jacob's Pillow; his decision to focus on dance; philosophical interests; being accepted as an apprentice with the Martha Graham Dance Company; attending the Juilliard School; Kazuko Hirabayashi; his admiration for Yuriko's dancing; working with Anna Sokolow; seeing Merce Cunningham's work for the first time; Chris Komar; other aspects of his training and the years after graduating from Juilliard; joining the Limón Dance Company; his developing interest in Cunningham's work; joining the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
  2. Cassette 2. Recorded October 21, 1998 at the Dance Collection, New York Public Library at Lincoln Center. Mr Swinston continues to discuss joining the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; compares the Cunningham and Graham techniques; describes his developing mastery of Cunningham technique and repertory; discusses dancers that he has admired; Sounddance; meaning in Cunningham's work; his impressions of Merce Cunningham in the early years; Cunningham's working process; touring with John Cage; various issues relating to performing Cunningham's choreography; strategies for learning Cunningham's complex material; the creation of Scenario; Rei Kawakubo's costumes; the increasing complexity of Cunningham's movement; reconstructing Cunningham's older works; Swinston's current position as assistant to the choreographer.
  3. Cassette 3. Continuation of cassette 2. Mr. Swinston discusses the death of John Cage; the death of Chris Komar; his admiration for Komar's teaching; his own dancing and his thoughts about the future.
Alternative title
  1. Dance Oral History Project.
  2. Dance Audio Archive.
Subject
  1. Cunningham, Merce
  2. Cunningham, Merce > Scenario
  3. Cunningham, Merce > Sounddance
  4. Hirabayashi, Kazuko
  5. Cage, John
  6. José Limón Dance Company
  7. Modern dance > Technique > Graham
  8. Audiotapes > Swinston, R
  9. Kawakubo, Rei, 1942-
  10. Komar, Chris
  11. Martha Graham Dance Company
  12. Merce Cunningham Dance Company
  13. Modern dance > Technique > Cunningham
  14. Erdman, Jean
Call number
  1. *MGZMT 3-2118
Note
  1. For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2118.
  2. Interviewed by Susan Kraft, February 20 and 21, 1998 in New York City.
Access (note)
  1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
Author
  1. Swinston, Robert. Interviewee
Title
  1. Interview with Robert Swinston [sound recording]
Imprint
  1. 1997.
Local note
  1. Preservation master cassette: *MGZTCO 3-2118.
  2. Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2118.
Restricted access
  1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.
Local subject
  1. Modern dance -- Technique -- Cunningham.
  2. Modern dance -- Technique -- Graham.
  3. Audiotapes -- Swinston, R.
Added author
  1. Kraft, Susan, 1961- Interviewer
Research call number
  1. *MGZMT 3-2118 [Transcript]
  2. *MGZTC 3-2118 [Cassette]
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