- unitid
-
{"value"=>"24570", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 486", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b21616855", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"circa 1953-2011", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1953/2011", "certainty"=>"approximate"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Murray Spalding papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"10 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"4.75 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"90 computer files", "unit"=>"computer_files"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"526.7 megabytes", "unit"=>"megabytes"}]}
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"16 audio recordings", "unit"=>"audio_recordings"}]}
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"90 moving image recordings", "unit"=>"moving_image_recordings"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Jerome Robbins Dance Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Murray Spalding (1944-2010) was an American choreographer, dancer, and teacher most known for her spiritually evocative <span class=\"title\">Mandala</span> dance series. The Murray Spalding papers date from about 1953 to 2011 and outline her career through performance production files; performance and publicity photographs; choreographic notebooks; scrapbooks; clippings; dance company records, and teaching files."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Spalding, Murray", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Lynn Murray Spalding was born January 30, 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky to Margaret Rodman Murray and J. Grieg Spalding. Her study of dance began with ballet lessons as a child. In 1968, she earned a BA and MFA in dance from Sarah Lawrence College, where dance pioneer Bessie Schönbergö was her teacher and mentor. She also studied under choreographer William Dollar at the American Ballet Theater School and at the Robert Joffrey School.</p> <p>Early in her career, Spalding was based in Washington, D.C., where she established the Murray Spalding Movement Arts dance company. After 1981 Spalding phased out her own performing and devoted all her time to choreography, managing the dance company, and teaching. Her performances and choreography drew influences from traditional ballet and modern dance, as well as yoga and Tai Chi. Her earlier work frequently included humorous or surreal elements.</p> <p>In the 1990s, she relocated to New York City, bringing Murray Spalding Movement Arts along with her. In New York, having grown less interested in narrative and more concerned with spirituality, she embarked on her <span class=\"title\">Mandala</span> series, which she worked on for the remainder of her career. The <span class=\"title\">Mandalas</span> were minimalist, circular, patterned dances that Spalding described as \"movement meditations that occupy a place between prayer and performance.\"</p> <p>Spalding died at her Washington, D.C. home on November 8, 2010.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Murray Spalding papers outline Spalding's career through performance production files; photographs; choreographic notebooks; scrapbooks; performance reviews; dance company records; teaching files; and other materials. Notable performance titles appearing frequently throughout the collection include: <span class=\"title\">Bathroom Games</span>; <span class=\"title\">Be</span>; <span class=\"title\">Crossings</span>; <span class=\"title\">Blue Ring</span>; <span class=\"title\">Doubtful Guest</span>, which was a collaboration with Edward Gorey; <span class=\"title\">A Fine Romance</span>, and the <span class=\"title\">Mandalas</span> series. The photographs and performance production files comprise the largest share of the collection and, together with the choreographic notebooks and scrapbooks, demonstrate a full picture of Spalding's career, her thought processes, and creative practice.</p> <p>The performance production section holds files for dance works Spalding either performed in or choreographed. These files may include programs, promotional materials, rehearsal notes, choreography and staging notes, and dancer contact information. They are arranged chronologically.</p> <p>The photograph files include publicity portraits, photographs of rehearsals, and photographs of performances. Most are labeled with dates or titles of performances. George A. Peterson, a professional photographer and Spalding's first husband, shot many of the images from the 1970s. Photographs from the 1970s and 1980s are primarily black and white 8 X 10\" prints, sometimes including negatives. Most photographs from the 1990s are color 4 x 6\" prints and those from the 2000s are digital files.</p> <p>Choreographic notebooks date mostly from Spalding's student years and her later choreographic work. They include sequence lists, choreographic diagrams, and journal entries. Some loose pages of choreographic notes are also included in this section.</p> <p>Three scrapbooks provide a timeline of Spalding's life in dance from her teen years up to 1988 through carefully affixed photographs, clippings, programs, and fliers.</p> <p>Several files of clippings contain reviews of performances and other articles about Spalding or her dance company. Many are photocopies.</p> <p>The Murray Spalding Movement Arts files contain sporadic business records of the dance company including theater floor plans, some correspondence, and board of advisors meeting notes.</p> <p>Teaching files relate to workshops Spalding taught and classes offered through Murray Spalding Movement Arts.</p> <p>Other materials include: resumes and biographic sketches of Spalding; grants; correspondence; a file on her teacher and mentor Bessie Schönberg; Spalding's education; publicity materials; and a memorial service held in Spalding's honor.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Murray Spalding papers are arranged alphabetically by section.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of James F. Bleakley Jr., Spalding's husband and administrator of her estate.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Heather Halliday, 2018.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Audio and video recordings are unavailable pending digitization.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1953
- keydate
-
1953
- date_end
-
2011
- date_inclusive_start
-
1953
- date_inclusive_end
-
2011
- extent_statement
-
4.75 linear feet (10 boxes). 526.7 megabytes (90 computer files). 16 audio recordings. 90 moving image recordings
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Murray Spalding papers, *MGZMD 486. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}