Research Catalog

Interview with Julia Levien

Title
Interview with Julia Levien, 1976.
Author
Levien, Julia
Publication
1976.

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
Kendall, Elizabeth, 1947-
Description
3 streaming audio files (approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes) : digital
Summary
  • Streaming audio file 1 (approximately 52 minutes). Julia Levien speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about her family background and early training in Duncan-style dance with Estelle Harriton; her first time seeing Isadora Duncan dance; Isadora's view of dance as a natural part of a child's education; (briefly) Mary Wigman; (briefly) studying with Bird Larson; classes with Anna Duncan including her impressions of Anna as a dancer; Theresa [Maria-Theresa] Duncan; an anecdote about Ethel Butler auditioning for Anna; more on classes with Anna including as compared with classes with Elizabeth [Duncan]; the relationship of the visual arts and Duncan movement including the works of Henri Matisse and the Tanagra figures [ends abruptly but continues directly on streaming audio file 2].
  • Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 45 minutes). Julia Levien speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about Isadora Duncan's association of Greek culture with democracy and freedom; the death of Isadora; the visit of children from the Russian school [Isadora Duncan's School in Moscow; Shkola Aĭsedory Dunkan]; the repertoire of dances performed in classes with Anna and Irma Duncan; misconceptions regarding Isadora's choreography and dancing; her impressions of Irma including as compared with Anna; Isadora's Dance of the Furies; more on the repertoire she learned in class; Isadora's spirituality as expressed in her work; more on Dance of the Furies including why it was a seminal work; performing the repertoire of Isadora Duncan's Russian school, on tour; her career after leaving Anna and Irma [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 3].
  • Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 14 minutes). Julia Levien speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about her teaching including the challenge of teaching Isadora's work to dancers who where not trained in the Duncan schools; her goal of preserving Isadora's legacy; the annual celebration of Isadora's birthday [short gap]; Levien describes a recent performance and class in Paris [France]; a planned memorial for the Duncans in Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Alternative Title
  • Dance Audio Archive
  • Dance Oral History Project
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Sound recordings.
  • Oral histories.
Note
  • For transcript of interview see: *MGZMT 3-1656.
  • Interview with Julia Levien conducted by Elizabeth Kendall on August 24, 1976, for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division Oral History Project.
  • Sound quality is very good overall but the recording is marred by "tape hiss."
  • The processing 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.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
Call Number
*MGZTO 5-1656
OCLC
80124800
Author
Levien, Julia, interviewee.
Title
Interview with Julia Levien, 1976.
Imprint
1976.
Type of Content
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
Type of Carrier
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Event
Recorded for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division Oral History Project August 24, 1976 New York (N.Y.)
Original Version
Original format: one sound reel (approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes); polyester; half-track; 1.875 ips; 5 in.; transferred to wav file and streaming file format in 2015: myd_mgzto51656_v01f01p01_sc, myd_mgzto51656_v01f01p02_sc, and myd_mgzto51656_v01f02_sc.
Local Note
Former classmark: *MGZTC 3-1656
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Kendall, Elizabeth, 1947- interviewer.
Research Call Number
*MGZTO 5-1656
View in Legacy Catalog