TitleInterview with Richard Cragun, 1981 or 1982
NamesCragun, Richard (Interviewee)Terry, Walter (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Audio Archive
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1981 - 1982 (Questionable)
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTCO 3-855
TopicsCragun, RichardCranko, JohnHaydée, MarciaWilliams, Stanley, 1925-1997Opus 1 (Choreographic work : Cranko)Twilight (Choreographic work : Manen)Male dancers
GenresInterviews
NotesContent: Title supplied by cataloger.Venue: Recorded by Walter Terry 1981 or 1982 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 Walter Terry
Physical DescriptionAudiocassetteExtent: 4 audiocassettes (approximately 5 hr., 42 min.) : quarter-track; 1.875 ipsSound quality is good overall. The recording is marred by occasional extraneous noise and "tape hiss".
DescriptionInterview with Richard Cragun conducted by Walter Terry in 1981 or 1982, in New York City.
Streaming audio file 1 (approximately 48 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about his childhood including his early dance training and acting experience; his focus on dance classes at the expense of his academic studies; his decision to become a professional dancer; his study of ballet and introduction to the RAD [Royal Academy of Dance] method; seeing Alexander Grant perform in the ballet Ondine; moving to London at age 16 to dance with the Royal Ballet; his family [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2].
Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 48 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about his family including his relationship with his brothers; his parents; his personality including an observation John Cranko made about him; various approaches dancers take to creating a role including Nora Kaye, Marcia Haydée, and himself; how he feels about his body [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 3].
Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 45 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about performing, for example in Sacre du printemps [Rite of spring]; the relationship of genius and insanity in an artist; his roles in John Cranko's Opus1 and in Glen Tetley's Voluntaries; his religious philosophy including its influence on his characterization of roles, for example in Kenneth MacMillan's Requiem and his Song of the earth; his recent experience taking class with Stanley [Williams], in particular his lack of confidence in his technique [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 4].
Streaming audio file 4 (approximately 45 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about his technique; the influence of Balanchine style on the teaching of technique; more on taking class with Stanley Williams; his studies with Vera Volkova, when he was 16 in London; his view of himself as a dancer; dancers who did not fit a classical mold but had successful careers, like Cragun and Marcia Haydée; dancing with Margot Fonteyn including how this influenced his partnering with Haydée; dancing with Haydée in Hans van Manen's Twilight [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 5].
Streaming audio file 5 (approximately 44 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about dancing Hans van Manen's Twilight with Marcia Haydée including the process of learning it together; the influence of his personal life on his art including how this contributes to characterization of a role; how he uses what he observes in others' performances; specific actions and emotions that influence a performance; his state of mind when performing [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 6].
Streaming audio file 6 (approximately 45 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about Marcia Haydée; the challenges of aging for a male dancer; John Cranko including his interest in choreographing for older dancers; how other dancers including his partners have influenced his dancing; his thoughts on the training of dancers [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 7].
Streaming audio file 7 (approximately 43 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about the training of dancers; dancers, intelligence, and education; his homosexuality; androgyny as a desiresable quality in dancers; his religious beliefs; his struggle with his sexual identity, John Cranko, and Marcia Haydée as the principal influences in his life [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 8].
Streaming audio file 8 (approximately 24 minutes). Richard Cragun speaks with Walter Terry about his acceptance of his homosexuality and the mainly beneficial effect of this acceptance on his personal and professional life including his relationship with Marcia Haydée.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 958932796NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12118717Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 0021c150-7961-0136-a809-79ca9447cadb
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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