TitleInterview with Julia Levien,1976
NamesLevien, Julia (Interviewee)Kendall, Elizabeth, 1947- (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Oral History Project
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1976-08-24
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTO 5-1656
TopicsDuncan, IrmaDuncan, Anna, 1894-1980Duncan, Isadora, 1877-1927Levien, JuliaShkola Aĭsedory DunkanIsadora Duncan Dancers
GenresOral historiesInterviews
NotesContent: For transcript of interview see: *MGZMT 3-1656.Content: Interview with Julia Levien conducted by Elizabeth Kendall for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division Oral History Project.Content: Sound quality is very good overall but the recording is marred by "tape hiss."Funding: 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.Content: Title supplied by cataloger.Venue: 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.).
Physical DescriptionAudiotape reelExtent: 1 audiotape reel (approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes) : analog, half-track;,1.875 ips, polyester ; 5 in.
DescriptionStreaming 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.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 80124800NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12119069Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): e4eec9d0-0340-0138-6cf7-23cfe9c425d3
Rights StatementThe New York Public Library holds or manages the copyright(s) in this item. If you need information about reusing this item, please go to: http://nypl.org/permissions
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