The Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Collection
Scope and Contents
Series 1: Administrative Series
The Administrative series consists of three sub-series: Itineraries, Management files, and
Foundation Correspondence. The series is arranged by artist and chronologically.
Itineraries document the dates and places of performances, dance festivals and
residencies. Management files document business aspects of the dance companies and
include contracts, technical specifications for performance venues, touring leads, and
correspondence. Foundation Correspondence includes letters and communications about
performances, teaching engagements, television appearances and publications.
Series 2: Artistic Series
The Artistic series is arranged by artist. The Alwin Nikolais sub-series includes: Choroscript, Illustrations, Production Papers and Manuscripts. The Murray Louis sub-series includes manuscripts of plays, video performances, magazine article manuscripts, book manuscripts and typescripts of interviews. The Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis sub-series contains the manuscripts for The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique: A philosophy and method of modern dance, including the Unique Gesture. Deposits have been received from 2001-2011.
The Choroscript files include original manuscripts from the text, Choroscript: Movement Analysis Notation, lesson plans, photographs, and articles. The Illustrations files contain drawings of choreographic works, costumes and set designs. The Production Papers include lighting plots, theater designs, cue books, descriptions of costumes, and slide projection negatives. The Manuscripts sub-series consists of papers and notes on pedagogy, autobiographical writings, lectures, and notes on touring.
The Murray Louis sub-series includes manuscripts for magazine articles and books, scripts from video productions and plays, and transcripts of interviews and speeches. Manuscripts for published books include Inside Dance and Murray Louis on Dance. Manuscripts for a Dance Magazine column titled “On Then and Now” are included. Video scripts are from the series, Dance as an Art Form. Play scripts were created at the Henry Street Playhouse and performed by the Young People’s Theater Workshop in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Transcripts of interviews include a series from the 1980’s with Dance Educators and speeches from numerous academic and award ceremonies.
The Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis sub-series includes manuscripts and a copy of The Nikolais/Louis Technique: a philosophy and method of modern dance including the unique gesture, a collaborative project of both artists.
Series 3: Awards
The Awards Series consists of objects and papers received by Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis in honor of their achievements. The awards are international, national, and local in scope and range from the National Medal of Arts to Keys of the City. The series is arranged by artist and chronologically. Deposits of awards were received from 2000-2011.
Series 4: Moving Image Series
The Moving Image series consists of two sub-series: Film and Video. The Film Sub-series documents the early choreographic work from the 1950’s – 1960’s. Content of the films
include performances, rehearsals and workshops. The Video Sub-series consists of
original videos and preservation copies of early films in video format. Original videos
were recorded during the 1970’s through the 1990’s.
Series 5: Personal Library
The Personal Library series consists of three sub-series: Magazines, Books, and Other
Materials. The magazine sub-series includes titles on dance, theater and dance company
publications. The books sub-series includes handmade books, books on art, music and
dance. Languages include Spanish, French, Japanese and English. Other materials
include a scrapbook, illustrations, DVD’s and theses published about Alwin Nikolais and
Murray Louis
Series 6: Photographic Series
The Photographic Series consists of five sub-series: prints, photography exhibits,
negatives, slides, and CD ROMs. Photographs of the choreographic works, portraits and
company members are contained in 79 boxes. Photographers include David Berlin, Nan
Melville, Max Waldron, Oleaga, Robert Sosenko, and Tom Caravaglia.
Series 7: Press and Promotion Series
The Press and Promotion series consists of the following sub-series: Company
Publications and Press Packets, Posters, Playbills and Handbills, Programs, and Press
Coverage. Press Coverage includes Magazine Press and Newspaper Press. Newspaper
Press also includes John Martin Reviews. The Press and Promotion series is arranged by
artist and chronologically. Dates range from 1927 – 2006
Series 8: Sound Recording Series
Dates range from 1936 – 1996. Recordings are of music to accompany the dances. Many recordings are original sound scores written and performed by Alwin Nikolais
Series 9: Costumed Figurines
The Costumed Figurines series consist of 13 wooden costumed figures constructed by
Frank Garcia, costume designer for the Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis dance
companies. They depict the choreographic works by Alwin Nikolais. The figurines were
used in the opening segment of the “World of Alwin Nikolais” video series.
Series 10: Supplement: Materials From Other Donors
Items in this series relate to the Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Collection.
They are not part of the collection materials deposited by Murray Louis. These materials
were donated by other people who collected information about dance companies,
American Modern Dance, dance education, and performances. The series consists of
materials from Ruth Grauert, the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre company manager,
Shirley Wimmer and Gladys Bailin, former Directors of the School of Dance at Ohio
University, Helen Priest Rogers, a dance educator from Ohio State University, and
Sheppard Black, former Special Collections Librarian at Ohio University Libraries.
Dates
- Creation: 1930 - 2012
Creator
- Nikolais, Alwin (1910 November 25-1993 May 8) (Person)
- Louis, Murray (1926 November 4-2016 February 1) (Person)
Alwin Nikolais Biographical Note
Alwin Nikolais (1910 – 1993) was a choreographer, dancer, composer, musician, teacher and innovator. He composed the music for his choreographic works, and designed the sets, costumes and lighting for his performances. In 1987 he was awarded the United States National Medal of Arts. Alwin Nikolais gave the world a new vision of dance and was named the “father of multi-media theater.”
Alwin Nikolais’ vision and philosophy are represented in over 120 choreographic works. In addition to the National Medal of Arts, Alwin Nikolais’ has been honored with the Samuel Scripps American Dance Festival Award, The Capezio Award, Dance Magazine Award, The Tiffany Award, and the American Dance Guild Award. He was knighted to France’s Legion of Honor and as a commander of the Order of Arts and Letters. Mr. Nikolais was twice designated a Guggenheim Fellow and received a creativity grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Alwin Nikolais began his performing career as an organist accompanying silent films. As a young artist, he gained skills in acting, scenic design, puppetry, and music composition. He was inspired to study dance after attending a performance by the illustrious German dancer, Mary Wigman. Alwin Nikolais received his early dance training at Bennington College in Vermont from the great figures of the modern dance world: Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and others.
Mr. Nikolais created his first work in 1939 in collaboration with Truda Kashmann, his first dance teacher. After teaching at his own studio and touring with Hanya Holm’s company, Alwin Nikolais did active duty in the Army during World War II. After the war he became Hanya Holm’s assistant, teaching at her New York school and Colorado College. In 1948 Nikolais was appointed director of the Dance Division of the Henry Street Playhouse where he formed the Playhouse Dance Company, later known as the Nikolais Dance Theatre. His company performed for audiences in each of the 50 states and in over 20 countries. His career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer spanned over 50 years.
Alwin Nikolais was the sole creator of each media source he used. His was a dance theater of motion, light, sound and color. Alwin Nikolais blended his talents into a single aesthetic force that has greatly influenced the contemporary stage and a generation of choreographers. His work explores abstraction in movement, design, and sound. Alwin Nikolais’ philosophy of dance is an art of “motion, which left on its own merits, becomes the message as well as the medium.”
Murray Louis Biographical Note
Murray Louis (1926 - 2016) was a choreographer, dancer, teacher and writer. Beginning in 1946 and continuing today, his artistic career can be described as enduring and prolific. He created over 130 choreographic works, published three books, a film series and video series. Murray Louis was a contributing writer for the New York Times and Dance Magazine. For over 50 years Murray Louis devoted his life to dance.
During 1998 Murray Louis was selected as a Phi Beta Kappa Scholar visiting 12 Universities in the United States. He was awarded two Guggenheim Fellowships and chosen as a Lucia Chase Fellow. Murray Louis was a Knight of the French Order of Arts & Letters. His awards included the Critics Award International and Dance Magazine Award.
Murray Louis’ career began in San Francisco after his discharge from the Navy. He studied acting, writing and dance with Anna Halprin. In 1949 he attended the Colorado College, School of Dance headed by Hanya Holm where he began his studies with Alwin Nikolais. Murray Louis was the principal dancer with the Nikolais Dance Theatre from 1950 – 1959. He was renowned for his perfect muscular control. Murray Louis became a driving force in the evolution of the aesthetic and pedagogic theory known today as the Nikolais/Louis Technique.
In 1953 Murray Louis made his debut as a choreographer and formed the Murray Louis Dance Company. He was a master of the language of dance and developed an eclectic and articulate choreographic style. His compositions are acclaimed for their artistic range, perception, intelligence and wit. Murray Louis choreographed pieces for the Jose Limon Dance Company, Rudolph Nureyev, the Royal Danish Ballet and the Berlin Opera Ballet. The Murray Louis Dance Company and the Dave Brubeck Quartet collaborated in programs performed throughout the United States, Europe and Japan for four seasons. In 1989 Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis combined their names and companies under the aegis of Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance.
As a teacher, Murray Louis’ affiliation with the Henry Street Playhouse as Associate Director of Dance continued from 1953 – 1970. During that time, he was also a pioneer with the National Endowment of the Arts in bringing dance to public school children. He was an innovator in university Artists in Residence programs and gave hundreds of master classes at colleges throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Murray Louis viewed dance as a complete language – a ways and means to communicate and learn. He continued to demonstrate total commitment and share his expertise.
Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais advanced modern dance through performance, choreography, music composition, teaching and writings. They integrated the use of technology throughout their choreography. Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais demonstrated artistic excellence and shaped American Modern Dance.
Extent
400 cubic feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Collection documents the careers of two leaders in American Modern Dance. The collection includes films, videos, photographs, manuscripts, posters, administrative documents, awards, programs, reviews, and musical recordings. The artists’ dance companies include the Playhouse Dance Company, the Alwin Nikolais Dance Company, the Nikolais Dance Theatre, the Murray Louis Dance Company, and the Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais Dance Company.
Custodial History
Ohio University received the collection through a generous gift of Murray Louis.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Processing Information
Processing, preservation, and access is made possible by Ohio University, Murray Louis, the National Initiative to Preserve America’s Dance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Save America’s Treasures.
Subject
- Alwin Nikolais Dance Company (Organization)
- Bailin, Gladys (Person)
- Author
- Judith Connick
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
