Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Joan Levy Bernstein [sound recording]

Author

Bernstein, Joan Levy.

Publication

[198-?]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Siegel, Marcia B.

Description

2 sound cassettes (ca. 115 min.)

Summary

• Cassette 1, side A (ca. 45 min.). [Begins abruptly.] Joan Levy Bernstein speaks about her early dance and music training in New York City; first meeting Doris Humphrey and beginning to study with her; being invited to understudy Humphrey's concert group; becoming a member of the Humphrey-Weidman Company; her father's opposition to her dancing; working as Humphrey's assistant at Bennington College and teaching the Humphrey-Weidman understudies in New York City; teaching Humphrey technique at the 92nd Street Y; specific aspects of the technique; Charles Weidman's technique; supporting herself and going to school while she was dancing [ends abruptly].
• Cassette 1, side B (ca. 30 min.). [Begins abruptly.] Bernstein continues to speak about how she supported herself; her husband's photographing of her early performances; anecdote about touring with Humphrey, Weidman and José Limón; her social life during this period, including visits to Weidman's farm; performing in Canada on tour after Limón had been denied entry; changes in the composition of the Humphrey-Weidman Company before and after she joined; teaching at Bennington College; the relationships among the different choreographers and their students, including the prohibition Martha Graham placed on contact between members of her group and of Humphrey's; Humphrey's creation of New dance; reconstructing it with Weidman at Connecticut College; more on New dance, including Humphrey's re-choreographing of it to a score commissioned from Wallingford Reigger [ends abruptly].
• Cassette 2, side A (ca. 40 min.). [Begins abruptly.] Bernstein speaks about Humphrey's dance Passacaglia and fugue in C minor and her Theater piece, no. 2, in particular the use of boxes; more on Passacaglia and fugue in C minor; Humphrey's illnesses; reason for Bernstein's leaving Humphrey's company; her personal relationship with Humphrey; Humphrey's personal life, Pauline Limón's role in the company; the dance-opera Iphigenia [in Aulis?]; Humphrey's unfinished work Orestes; the financial difficulties of the company members and their efforts to increase their earnings, including the performing of ethnic dances; Humphrey as a speaker; reminiscences of Sybil Shearer [ends abruptly].

Donor/Sponsor

• Oral History Archive.
• New York State Council on the Arts, 2000-2001.

Subjects

• Dancers > Economic aspects > 20th century
• Bernstein, Joan Levy
• Weidman, Charles
• Humphrey-Weidman Company
• Audiotapes > Bernstein, J
• Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958 > New dance
• Humphrey, Doris, 1885-1958

Note

• Interview with Joan Levy Bernstein conducted by Marcia B. Siegel, possibly in the first half of the 1980s, but not later than 1984, in New York City. An unidentified male, almost certainly Bernstein's husband, Sidney, is present and participates in the conversation occasionally.
• The overall quality of the recording is fair; that of Bernstein husband's voice is poor, and at times close to inaudible. In addition, the recording is marred by extraneous noise.

Funding (note)

• Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, 2000-2001.

Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2274

OCLC

NYPY04-R52

Author

Bernstein, Joan Levy. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Joan Levy Bernstein [sound recording]

Imprint

[198-?]

Funding

Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, 2000-2001.

Local Note

Archival copies: *MGZTCO 3-2274 nos. 1-2

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 10-2274 nos. 1-2

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Bernstein, J.

Added Author

Siegel, Marcia B. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2274