Two streaming files (approximately one hour and four minutes) : digital, stereo
Summary
Streaming file 1 (approximately 32 minutes). Bessie Schönberg speaks to Theodora Wiesner about her family background, in Germany, and joining her mother in the United States in 1926; her interest in Mary Wigman; her first formal training in dance, at the University of Oregon; Martha Hill and her classes at the University of Oregon; following Hill to New York; her dance classes, with Martha Graham and at the Neighborhood Playhouse; Louis Horst; leaving Graham's company due to her knee injury; teaching with Hill including at New York University and at Bennington College's summer dance program [Bennington School of the Dance]; Hanya Holm; World War II and the end of Bennington College's summer dance program.
Streaming file 2 (approximately 32 minutes). Bessie Schönberg speaks to Theodora Wiesner about getting married and returning to Bennington College to finish her undergraduate degree; teaching at the newly-created Bennington School of the Dance; teaching at various other schools, including at Briarcliff [Junior] College and Sarah Lawrence College; the educational philosophy at Sarah Lawrence; the graduate program in dance at Sarah Lawrence; translating Curt Sachs' book [World History of the Dance, 1937] including working with Sachs; her evaluation of the book's contents; more on the development of the dance program at Sarah Lawrence; some of the guest teachers, including José Limón; musicians who worked with the program, including Alex North, Norman and Ruth Lloyd, and John Cage [ends abruptly].
Interview with Bessie Schönberg conducted by Theodora Wiesner for the oral history project of the National Dance Association of the American Alliance for Heath, Physical Education, and Recreation, in New York City on April 4, 1979.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Sound quality is good. The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise and "tape hiss" but the speakers' voices are clearly intelligible.
Access (note)
Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at NYPL research libraries.
Funding (note)
The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.
Author
Schönberg, Bessie, interviewee.
Type of content
spoken word
Type of medium
audio
Type of carrier
online resource
Digital file characteristics
audio file
Event
Recorded by Theodora Wiesner April 4, 1979 New York (N.Y.)
Original version
Original format: one sound cassette (approximately one hour and four minutes); polyester; quarter-track, 1.875 ips.