Scope and arrangement
The collection documents Kent Baker's entire dance career, from student performances to his final work as a choreographer, with an emphasis on his choreography and performances. Original choreographic notes document approximately half of his body of work, including notes for works that were never performed publicly, as well as notes for various aerobic routines for fitness classes. Photographs illustrate his career as a dancer, spanning his work with the Phyllis Lamhut Dance Company to A Baker's Half Dozen's various performances, up to his last choreographic work for Newcomb College. The A Baker's Half Dozen corporate records contain the company's incorporation and tax exempt filings, as well as board meeting minutes that detail the early days of a small, struggling dance company. The programs and publicity files contain programs of virtually every performance of his professional career, as well as correspondence, fliers, interviews, press clippings and releases, and reviews of his choreography not available elsewhere, as well as Baker's obituary. The collection also contains résumés and biographical material, including a short autobiography. The Kent Baker papers do not contain correspondence or financial records related to A Baker's Half Dozen or Baker's personal life.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' dance research collection includes additional materials related to Kent Baker. Press clippings and reviews can be found by conducting individual subject searches for "Baker, Kent" and "Baker's Half Dozen (Company)," while video recordings can be found by conducting an author search for "Baker, Kent" in the catalog (www.nypl.org/catalog). When conducting an author search, Baker will be listed separately as a dancer and as a choreographer, costume designer, and dancer.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by subject.