TitleInterview with Bertram Ross, June 30 and October 18, 21, and 22, and November 1, 1976
NamesRoss, Bertram, 1920- (Interviewee)Nuchtern, Jean (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Oral History Project
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1976
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZT 5-416 (former)
TopicsGraham, MarthaProtas, RonRoss, Bertram, 1920-Martha Graham Dance CompanyEye of anguish (Choreographic work : Graham)Canticle for innocent comedians (Choreographic work : Graham)Night journey (Choreographic work : Graham)Seraphic dialogue (Choreographic work : Graham)Theatre for a voyage (Choreographic work : Graham)Appalachian spring (Choreographic work : Graham)Clytemnestra (Choreographic work : Graham)Visionary recital (Choreographic work : Graham)Oases (Choreographic work : Ross)Ross, Bertram, 1920- -- Interviews
GenresOral historiesInterviews
NotesContent: Interview with Bertram Ross conducted by Jean Nuchtern on June 30, October 18, 21, and 22, and November 1,1976, in New York City for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division Oral History Project.Bibliographic history: Title supplied by cataloger.Source note: Sound quality is good. There is extraneous noise including "tape hiss" and occasional short gaps but the speakers' voices are always easily intelligible.Venue: Recorded for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts 1976, June 30, October 18, 21, and 22, and November 1 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 DescriptionAudiotape reelExtent: 4 audiotape reels (approximately 10 hr., 23 min.) : analog, 1.875 ips, half-track, polyester; 5 in.
DescriptionStreaming file 1, June 30, 1976 (approximately one hour and 38 minutes). Bertram Ross speaks with Jean Nuchtern about his early attraction to dance including various companies he saw as a child; his decision to become a dancer; studying at Martha Graham's studio; becoming a member of the company [Martha Graham Dance Company]; Graham's method for pushing out a dancer in favor of a new one; his first role, as Mad Tom, in King Lear [Eye of anguish]; the circumstances of his debut performance in Graham's work Night journey; more on Lear including the tension surrounding the New York premiere; his prior theatrical experience; Graham's Canticle for innocent comedians; dancing Lazarus in Nina Fonaroff's work Lazarus; more on Canticle including its revival; his revival of El penitente including the assistance of Erik Hawkins; Graham's approach to revivals; an anecdote about performing with Graham; Graham's work Night journey including Hawkins' performance [ends abruptly but continues directly on streaming fie 2].
Streaming file 2, June 30, 1976 (approximately 30 minutes). Bertram Ross speaks with Jean Nuchtern about performing with Martha Graham in Night journey; Graham's work Seraphic [dialogue]; [ends abruptly].
Streaming file 3, October 18, 1976 (approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes). Bertram Ross speaks with Jean Nuchtern about working with Martha Graham; touring in Asia; various anecdotes regarding Seraphic dialogue; Voyage [later Theatre for a voyage] including the theme of solitude and Graham's revising of the end; the autobiographical elements of Graham's works; more on Voyage; Graham's work Clytemnestra; more on Voyage; his personal relationship with Graham; Graham's Appalachian spring, in particular, the role of the Preacher; [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 4].
Streaming file 4, October 18 and 21, 1976 (approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes). Bertram Ross continues to speak with Jean Nuchtern about Graham's work Appalachian spring; [October 18 session ends and October 21 session begins]; Ross speaks with Nuchtern about Clytemnestra including his role as Agamemnon; her work Cave of the heart and the role of Jason; more on Clytemnestra including the role of Orestes, an anecdote about Glen Tetley, and the new ending; his thoughts on a film made of Graham dancing in Appalachian spring [ends abruptly].
Streaming file 5, October 22, 1976 (approximately one hour and 37 minutes). Bertram Ross speaks with Jean Nuchtern about working with Martha Graham, in particular on her work Visionary recital [working title, Samson] including anecdotes about Paul Taylor and various observations regarding Graham's personality; Graham's work Witch of Endor [ends abruptly but continues on streaming file 6].
Streaming file 6, October 22 and November 1, 1976 (approximately one hour and 37 minutes). Bertram Ross continues to speak with Jean Nuchtern about Martha Graham's work Witch of Endor; [October 22 session ends and November 1 session begins]; Ross speaks with Nuchtern about the events leading to his departure from Graham's company as well as his creation of Oases.
Streaming file 7, November 1, 1976 (approximately one hour and 37 minutes). Bertram Ross continues to speak with Jean Nuchtern about the events that led to his leaving Graham's company including Ron Protas's relationship with Graham and the company and incidents that occurred during the company's residency at Lake Placid; the manner of his resignation.
Streaming file 8, November 1, 1976 (approximately 9 minutes). Bertram Ross continues to speak with Jean Nuchtern about his resignation from Martha Graham's company and his relationship with Graham.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 81583535 NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12118178Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 10cbd440-b2a4-0133-90ef-60f81dd2b63c
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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