Summary

Creator:

Dean, Laura, 1945-

Abstract:

Laura Dean (b. 1945) is an American choreographer and composer. In 1972, she established her company, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, where she created the choreography for forty works, and in most instances, created the music as well. A number of Dean's pieces were also accompanied by the music of Steve Reich. Dean continued to create works for her company until 2000. She received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award in recognition of her accomplishments as a choreographer and composer in 2008. Collection includes photographic prints, contact sheets, negatives, slides, clippings, programs, printed materials, posters, VHS videotapes, and an audiocassette.

Extent:

30.34 Linear Feet

Language:

Materials in English

Collection ID:

ADF.005

Background

Scope and Content:

Collection includes photographic prints, contact sheets, negatives, slides, clippings, programs, printed materials, posters, VHS videotapes, and an audiocassette.

Biographical / Historical:

Laura Dean (b. 1945) is an American choreographer and composer. After her graduation from the High School of Performing Arts in New York, she became a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. In 1972, she established her own company, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, where she created the choreography for forty works, and in most instances, created the music as well. A number of Dean's pieces were also accompanied by the music of Steve Reich. She received commissions for new works from the American Dance Festival, the Kennedy Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Het Muziektheater, Walker Art Center, Hancher Auditorium, the Hopkins Center, and the Avignon Festival. Dean was also commissioned to create works for the Royal Danish Ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Frankfurt Ballet, the Ohio Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet. She created works for professional skating companies including the John Curry Skaters, the Next Ice Age, and the Ice Theater of New York. She created works for modern dance companies including the Bat-Dor Dance Company of Israel, the Concert Dance Company of Boston, Repertory Dance Theatre, and the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Dean continued to create works for her own company until 2000. She received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award in recognition of her accomplishments as a choreographer and composer in 2008.

Acquisition Information:

The Laura Dean Papers were received by the American Dance Festival Archives as a gift in May 2008.

Processing information:

Processed by ADF Archives Staff, July 2008

Encoded by Dean Jeffrey, Sept. 2008

Arrangement:

The majority of the photographic and printed materials was arranged in 49 binders by Laura Dean. These materials were grouped as to whether they were created for Dean's company, other companies, or for students. Within these sub-series, materials were then most often arranged by choreographic work, and then arranged chronologically by the date of composition of the work (i.e., most materials related to a work are filed under the year of the work's creation, irregardless of when the materials were created.) Interspersed within this chronological arrangement are materials related to specific performance engagements or tours.

Following the binders are four books of over-sized photographic prints, arranged chronologically, two boxes of posters, and seven boxes of VHS videotapes of performances, also grouped by whether they were created for Dean's company, other companies, or for students.

Physical Location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the ADF Archives.

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:

Choreographers -- United States
Modern dance -- United States

Names:

Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians
Reich, Steve, 1936-
Dean, Laura, 1945-