TitleInterview with Muriel Stuart, 1978
NamesStuart, Muriel, 1900-1991 (Interviewee)Tobias, Tobi (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Oral History Project
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1978-09-05 - 1978-10-10
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTCO 3-432
TopicsPavlova, Anna, 1881-1931Graham, MarthaDe Mille, AgnesBalanchine, GeorgeCunningham, MerceKirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996Stuart, Muriel, 1900-1991School of American Ballet
GenresOral historiesInterviews
NotesAdditional physical form: For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-432.Content: Interview with Muriel Stuart conducted by Tobi Tobias on September 5, 13 or 14, and 19, and October 10, 1978 for the Oral History Project of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, in New York (N.Y.). The original container of the original recording indicates that the date of the second interview session is September 14; however, Tobi Tobias states that the date is September 13.Bibliographic history: Title supplied by cataloger.Source characteristics: Sound quality is fair to poor in all of the streaming audio files except streaming audio files 3 and 9,in which it is good. In streaming audio file 1-2 and 4-8, Muriel Stuart's voice is soft and very difficult to understand at times.Venue: Recorded by Tobi Tobias 1978, September 5, 13 or 14, and 19, and October 10 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.
Physical DescriptionAudiocassetteExtent: 5 audio cassettes (approximately 5 hr., 30 min.); quarter track; 1.875 ips
DescriptionStreaming audio file 1 (approximately 47 minutes). September 5, 1978. Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about her family and childhood in London, England including her first dance lessons; training with Anna Pavlova; the repertoire of Pavlova's company; Ivy House; the other students [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2].
Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 26 minutes). Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about her time with Anna Pavlova and her company; dance audiences; her great admiration for the work of Martha Graham; Anna Pavlova as a performer and as a person including her advice to Stuart on marriage.
Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 48 minutes ). September 13 or 14, 1978. Muriel Stuart continues to speak with Tobi Tobias about Anna Pavlova; she speaks about studying dance in Paris with Ivan Custine [Stuart shows Tobias photographs]; more on her time with Pavlova including touring [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 4].
Streaming audio file 4 (approximately 36 minutes ). September 13 or 14, 1978. Muriel Stuart continues to speak with Tobi Tobias about Anna Pavlova and touring with her company; her impressions of Victor Dandré; Pavlova's appreciation of all kinds of movement; the narrow, performance-oriented training of students today.
Streaming audio file 5 (approximately 48 minutes ). September 19, 1978. [Interview begins at approximately 3:00.] Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about seeing Mary Wigman perform in Dresden; ballet technique as fundamental to dance training; taking class with Harald Kreutzberg; taking class with Martha Graham including her first impressions of Graham and Graham's working methods [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 6].
Streaming audio file 6 (approximately 45 minutes ). Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about Martha Graham including as a performer; leaving Anna Pavlova's company after her [first] marriage, [to Julian Brudetzky]; teaching, at her own school; Agnes de Mille; recognizing talent [short gap]; her second marriage, to James Warrick; auditioning, for a position as a teacher, at the School of American Ballet [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 7].
Streaming audio file 7 (approximately 18 minutes ). September 19, 1978. Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about teaching at the School of American Ballet including George Balanchine's influence on how she teaches; Balanchine as a teacher.
Streaming audio file 8 (approximately 48 minutes ). October 10, 1978. Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about Merce Cunningham; Erick Hawkins; her career as a teacher including observations about the students; defining what greatness is in a dancer; students of modern dance compared to students of ballet; Lincoln Kirstein; their book on ballet [The classic ballet: basic technique and terminology] [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 9].
Streaming audio file 9 (approximately 14 minutes ). October 10, 1978. Muriel Stuart speaks with Tobi Tobias about the relationship between George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, in particular their very different personalities; her thoughts on Balanchine's Swan lake; his ability to bring out the best in a dancer; her own pleasure in helping the less obviously talented students blossom; speculation as to why ballet dancers often keep cats as pets.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 83791777NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12118262Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 939f9310-c278-0135-08c7-1fabdd28753f
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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