TitleInterview with Mary Ann and Michael Herman, and: speeches on the occasion of the Folk Costume exhibit 1980
Additional title: Speeches on the occasion of the Folk Costume exhibit 1980
NamesHerman, Mary Ann (Interviewee)Zukor, Jerry (Speaker)Herman, Michael, 1911-1996 (Interviewee)Oswald, Genevieve (Speaker)
CollectionDance Audio Archive
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1980
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTCO 3-1274
TopicsHerman, Mary AnnHerman, Michael, 1911-1996Burchenal, Elizabeth, 1877-1959Folk Dance House (New York, N.Y.)New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)Folk dancing -- United StatesFolk dancing, East EuropeanFolk dancingDance teachersDance costumeDance costume -- Exhibitions
GenresInterviewsSpeeches
NotesCitation/reference: The Library holds a collection of Mary Ann and Michael Herman's papers, cataloged under the title: Michael and Mary Ann Herman papers, 1936-1956, with the call number: (S) *MGZMD 334.Content: Title supplied by cataloger.Venue: 1980 New York (N.Y.)Funding: 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.Acquisition: Gift Jerry Zukor March 13, 1991
Physical DescriptionAudiocassetteExtent: 2 audiocassettes (approximately 2 hr., 27 min.) : 1.78 ips; quarter-trackSound quality is poor to fair until approximately 12:50 minutes into streaming file 2, when the volume rises significantly, and the recording is much easier to understand. There is also a short passages of static in streaming file 2 due to damage in the original recording.
DescriptionInterview with Mary Ann and Michael Herman, probably in New York (N.Y.), on January 20 1980 (streaming files 1 and 2). The interviewer is not identified. Streaming files 3 and 4 contain a recording of the speeches made on the occasion of the opening of the Folk Costume exhibit at The Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York (N.Y.) on April 17, 1980, including (on streaming file 4) a speech by Mary Ann Herman.
Streaming audio file 1: Interview with Michael and Mary Ann Herman, January 20, 1980 (approximately 47 minutes). Michael Herman and Mary Ann Herman speak about their lives and careers as folk dance teachers including people and organizations that supported ethnic folk dancing; their involvement with Ukrainian folk dance and culture, including the problem of ethnic nationalism; Elizabeth Burchenal; developing techniques to teach ethnic folk dancing to Americans; their founding of Folk Dance House and their constant research; the decline of folk dancing in Europe after World War I and its preservation by ethnic groups in the United States; teaching folk dancing at the World's Fair [of 1939-1940]; the use of live music due to the dearth of recorded folk dance music; anecdotes about teaching at the Ukrainian community center in New York City [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 2].
Streaming audio file 2: Interview with Michael and Mary Ann Herman, January 20, 1980 (approximately 38 minutes). Mary Ann Herman, with comments from Michael Herman, speaks about their lives and careers as folk dance teachers including Mary Ann's early period as a teacher and Michael's military service during World War II; some notable people in the folk dance world; possible reasons the Hermans became leaders in folk dance; Mr. J [Anatol Joukowsky]; the question of authenticity; their book collection [beginning at approximately 16:10 minutes there is a short period of static]; their costume collection including anecdotes about how they were obtained; the educational and social aspects of their work in folk dance; others who contributed significantly to the folk dance movement; the importance of preserving ethnic folk dances.
Streaming audio file 3: Speeches on the occasion of the opening of the Folk Costume exhibit, April 17, 1980 (approximately 42 minutes). This part of the recording consists of speeches made honoring Michael and Mary Ann Herman on the occasion of the opening of an exhibition of their costume collection at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York (N.Y.); speakers included the respective representatives of [former] President Carter, Governor Hugh Carey, and Mayor Ed Koch; additional speakers included: Genevieve Oswald, Joyce Jones, of the Institute of Folk Arts at Duquesne University, and Jerry Zukor, who also read a letter from Gene Kelly.
Streaming audio file 4: Speech by Mary Ann Herman on the occasion of the opening of the Folk Costume exhibit, April 17, 1980 (approximately 20 minutes). Mary Ann Herman speaks about folk dancing and her and Michael Herman's folk costume collection including their belief that the costumes should be worn; her and Michael's attempts to include all ethnic groups in their folk dancing activities; teaching; anecdotes; the low status of folk dancing in the dance world [the final approximate seven minutes of the recording consists of the sounds of Mary Ann Herman organizing an impromptu dance among the guests including the accompanying music, followed by her closing remarks].
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 935341304NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b20878342Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 05bcd940-b954-0133-b455-3c07547a230f
Rights StatementThe copyright and related rights status of this item has been reviewed by The New York Public Library, but we were unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the item. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.
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