Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Robert Swinston [sound recording]

Author

Swinston, Robert.

Publication

1997.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Kraft, Susan, 1961-

Description

3 sound cassettes (3.5 hr.) +

Summary

• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• Dance Oral History Project.
• Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Cunningham, Merce
• Sounddance (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• Hirabayashi, Kazuko
• Cage, John
• José Limón Dance Company
• Modern dance > Technique > Graham
• Audiotapes > Swinston, R
• Kawakubo, Rei, 1942-
• Komar, Chris
• Martha Graham Dance Company
• Merce Cunningham Dance Company
• Scenario (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
• Modern dance > Technique > Cunningham
• Erdman, Jean

Note

• For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2118.
• Interviewed by Susan Kraft, February 20 and 21, 1998 in New York City.

Access (note)

• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Call Number

*MGZMT 3-2118

OCLC

NYPY98-R7

Author

Swinston, Robert. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Robert Swinston [sound recording]

Imprint

1997.

Local Note

Preservation master cassette: *MGZTCO 3-2118.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2118.

Restricted Access

Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Local Subject

Modern dance -- Technique -- Cunningham.

Modern dance -- Technique -- Graham.

Audiotapes -- Swinston, R.

Added Author

Kraft, Susan, 1961- Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZMT 3-2118 [Transcript]

*MGZTC 3-2118 [Cassette]