Ruth Page Collection, 1928-1999
Collection Identifier: C.2011-05
Preservation Sponsor: National Endowment for the Arts ,Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Repository
CFA
CFA
Extent of collection
406 reels of 16mm totaling 221,551 feet; 10 reels of 35mm totaling 3,875 feet; 16 1" videotapes totaling 8,900 feet; 66 1/2 " reel-to-reel videotapes totaling 101,690 feet; 10 1/4 " videotapes totaling 4,370 feet; 1 2" videotape totaling 300 feet; 53 3/4" tape cassettes; 213 Betacam SP tape cassettes; and 160 VHS tape cassettes.
406 reels of 16mm totaling 221,551 feet; 10 reels of 35mm totaling 3,875 feet; 16 1" videotapes totaling 8,900 feet; 66 1/2 " reel-to-reel videotapes totaling 101,690 feet; 10 1/4 " videotapes totaling 4,370 feet; 1 2" videotape totaling 300 feet; 53 3/4" tape cassettes; 213 Betacam SP tape cassettes; and 160 VHS tape cassettes.
Inclusive Dates
1928 - 1999
1928 - 1999
Bulk Dates
1950 - 1988
1950 - 1988
Abstract
This collection documents the dance legacy and artistic circle of choreographer, Ruth Page, named by the Dance Heritage Coalition as one of America’s 100 Irreplaceable Dance Treasures. As the largest collection of moving image materials related to Ruth Page, this is a worthy complement to the vast manuscript collection that resides at the Jerome Robins Dance Division of the New York Public Library and the Newberry Library in Chicago. The collection contains rehearsals and performances that date back to 1922 including footage of Rudolph Nureyev soon after his defection from the Soviet Union, Balinese dances filmed during Page’s 1928 Asian Tour, and performances of The Merry Widow on the Ed Sullivan Show. It also contains the original and master tapes of numerous interviews with dance critics such as Clive Barnes and John Martin, dancers such as Larry Long, Delores Lipinski, Anne Kisselgoff and Maria Tallchief, and a comprehensive series of interviews and oral histories with Page herself that date from 1957 through 1987. Among the dozens of Ruth Page ballets contained in this collection is an original 35mm nitrate print of Bolero danced in 1928 at Ravinia in Highland Park, IL.
This collection documents the dance legacy and artistic circle of choreographer, Ruth Page, named by the Dance Heritage Coalition as one of America’s 100 Irreplaceable Dance Treasures. As the largest collection of moving image materials related to Ruth Page, this is a worthy complement to the vast manuscript collection that resides at the Jerome Robins Dance Division of the New York Public Library and the Newberry Library in Chicago. The collection contains rehearsals and performances that date back to 1922 including footage of Rudolph Nureyev soon after his defection from the Soviet Union, Balinese dances filmed during Page’s 1928 Asian Tour, and performances of The Merry Widow on the Ed Sullivan Show. It also contains the original and master tapes of numerous interviews with dance critics such as Clive Barnes and John Martin, dancers such as Larry Long, Delores Lipinski, Anne Kisselgoff and Maria Tallchief, and a comprehensive series of interviews and oral histories with Page herself that date from 1957 through 1987. Among the dozens of Ruth Page ballets contained in this collection is an original 35mm nitrate print of Bolero danced in 1928 at Ravinia in Highland Park, IL.
Creator
Page, Ruth (created by)
Dancer, choreographer, company director, and pioneering Chicago dance figure for over half a century, Ruth Page (1899-1991), was born in Indianapolis. She studied fancy dancing with Anna Stanton and ballet with Elizabetta Menzeli, made her professional debut on Broadway, then toured South America with Anna Pavlova. During the 1920s Page worked closely with Adolph Bolm, starring in his productions for Chicago Allied Arts and choreographing her first successful dances for its repertory. Settling in Chicago, she became premiere danseuse of the Ravinia Opera. In the 1930s, in partnership with Bentley Stone, she created Frankie and Johnny (1938) and several other Americana ballets, most to commissioned scores by American composers; she also worked with Katherine Dunham and Harald Kreutzberg, exploring a broad range of expression. In the following decades she created a number of works inspired by operas, founded the Chicago Opera Ballet, and formed the Ruth Page Foundation for Dance, a school she co-directed with Larry Long. Sophisticated, open-minded, and energetic, she gave opportunities and exposure to countless American and international dance artists. www.ruthpage.com. (From the Dance Heritage Coalition - danceheritage.org.)
Dancer, choreographer, company director, and pioneering Chicago dance figure for over half a century, Ruth Page (1899-1991), was born in Indianapolis. She studied fancy dancing with Anna Stanton and ballet with Elizabetta Menzeli, made her professional debut on Broadway, then toured South America with Anna Pavlova. During the 1920s Page worked closely with Adolph Bolm, starring in his productions for Chicago Allied Arts and choreographing her first successful dances for its repertory. Settling in Chicago, she became premiere danseuse of the Ravinia Opera. In the 1930s, in partnership with Bentley Stone, she created Frankie and Johnny (1938) and several other Americana ballets, most to commissioned scores by American composers; she also worked with Katherine Dunham and Harald Kreutzberg, exploring a broad range of expression. In the following decades she created a number of works inspired by operas, founded the Chicago Opera Ballet, and formed the Ruth Page Foundation for Dance, a school she co-directed with Larry Long. Sophisticated, open-minded, and energetic, she gave opportunities and exposure to countless American and international dance artists. www.ruthpage.com. (From the Dance Heritage Coalition - danceheritage.org.)
Custodial History
These films and videos were compiled by Ruth Page and have been stored with the Ruth Page Foundation in Chicago since her death. Venetia Stifler and the Ruth Page Foundation gifted the materials to CFA in 2011.
These films and videos were compiled by Ruth Page and have been stored with the Ruth Page Foundation in Chicago since her death. Venetia Stifler and the Ruth Page Foundation gifted the materials to CFA in 2011.
Language of Materials
English
English
Related Materials
Related materials reside at The Ruth Page Foundation, Dance Heritage Coalition, Jerome Robins Dance Division at the New York Public Library, The Newberry Library in Chicago, and Library of Congress
Related materials reside at The Ruth Page Foundation, Dance Heritage Coalition, Jerome Robins Dance Division at the New York Public Library, The Newberry Library in Chicago, and Library of Congress