- unitid
-
{"value"=>"29941", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 523", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1946-2017", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1946/2017"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Cynthia Gregory papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"11 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"5 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Jerome Robbins Dance Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Cynthia Gregory is a retired American dancer and former prima ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre. The Cynthia Gregory papers, dated 1946 to 2017, document her dancing career and retirement activities, with emphasis on her American Ballet Theatre tenure. The collection includes articles, programs, correspondence, photographs, awards and certificates, tutus, dance shoes, video recordings, and film."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"Multiple languages"}
{"value"=>"English, with some Chinese, German, Greek, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish."}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Gregory, Cynthia", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"cre"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Cynthia Gregory is a retired American dancer and former prima ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre. Born in 1946 in Los Angeles, Gregory began dancing as a child and performed with the California Children's Ballet Company for four years. She won a scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet in 1961, performing in the corps de ballet and soon after as a soloist. In 1965, Gregory moved to New York City and joined the American Ballet Theatre. She became a soloist in 1966 and prima ballerina in 1967, the same year she debuted as Odette/Odile in <span class=\"title\">Swan Lake</span>; Gregory is closely associated with this role and her performance is still seen as definitive. Her other lead ballets included <span class=\"title\">Coppélia</span>, <span class=\"title\">Corsaire</span>, <span class=\"title\">Don Quixote</span>, <span class=\"title\">Giselle</span>, and <span class=\"title\">The Sleeping Beauty</span>. Throughout her career, Gregory guested with dance companies around the world and partnered with Fernando Bujones, Peter Martins, and Rudolf Nureyev, among others. In 1986, she became a permanent guest artist at the Cleveland San Jose Ballet and began her Celebration Tour, a travelling show that raised awareness for drug abuse. After resigning from the American Ballet Theatre in 1991, Gregory continued to guest for dance companies before retiring from performing in 1992. She has since staged several ballets, taught master dance classes, illustrated dance artwork, and served as Chairman of the Board for Career Transition for Dancers. Gregory has received numerous honors, including the 1975 Dance Magazine Award and two honorary doctorates. She resides in Nevada.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection, dated 1946 to 2017, documents Gregory's dancing career and retirement activity, with emphasis on her American Ballet Theatre tenure. It is divided into six groups: Early Years, American Ballet Theatre, Guesting and Other Activities, Years after Performing, Dancewear, and Video Recordings and Film.</p> <p>The Early Years group is arranged in two sections: Los Angeles and San Francisco Ballet. The Los Angeles section contains materials from 1946 to 1961, mostly concerning Gregory's ballet activity. The San Francisco Ballet materials document Gregory's time with the company from 1961 to 1965. Both sections contain articles, programs, correspondence, and photographs. Most of these materials relate to Gregory performing.</p> <p>The American Ballet Theatre group is the most substantial part of the collection. It reflects Gregory's tenure with the company from 1965 to 1991, focusing on performances in New York City and around the United States, as well as international tours. Also included are materials relating to Gregory's 1977 White House performance and 20th Anniversary Gala in 1985. This group contains articles, programs, correspondence, photographs, and some press releases and resumes. Articles consist of interviews, profiles, and reviews of performances. Programs are mostly for Gregory's performances, but also include some before and after her tenure. Correspondence is largely personal and incoming, from fans, teachers, and colleagues; there is also a portion of mostly outgoing mail to Gregory's parents. Photographs primarily show Gregory performing solo or with partners.</p> <p>The Guesting and Other Activities group highlights Gregory's performances as a guest dancer outside of the American Ballet Theatre, both in the United States and internationally; of special note are materials for her Celebration Tour and activity with the Cleveland Ballet. This group also contains materials for Gregory's advertising work and awards received during her career. Included here are articles and clippings, programs, personal and professional correspondence, photographs, and certificates.</p> <p>The Years after Performing group covers activity from 1993 to 2017, including Gregory's staging work, master class instruction, artwork, awards received during retirement, and Career Transition for Dancers chairmanship. There are also some personal letters and photographs, and Gregory's memoir manuscript.</p> <p>Dancewear consists of Gregory's theatre robe, four pairs of dance shoes, and six tutus. Gregory's first ballet shoes and tutu are included, as well as four tutus worn for performances of various ballets.</p> <p>Film and video recordings include American Ballet Theatre and guest performances from 1975 to 1990. There is also an interview with Gregory, video of her childhood appearance on <span class=\"title\">The Jack Benny Program</span>, short film with Ivan Nagy, a master class taping, and Linda Ronstadt's \"When You Wish Upon a Star\" music video featuring Gregory.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is divided into six groups: Early Years; American Ballet Theatre; Guesting and Other Activities; Years after Performing; Dancewear; and Audio and Video Recordings.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Cynthia Gregory in 2019.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Nathan Evans</span> in <span class=\"date\">2020</span>.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Inquiries regarding audio and moving image materials in the collection may be directed to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (dance@nypl.org). Audio and moving image materials will be subject to preservation assessment and migration prior to access.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Dancewear can be requested by appointment only.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1946
- keydate
-
1946
- date_end
-
2017
- date_inclusive_start
-
1946
- date_inclusive_end
-
2017
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Cynthia Gregory papers, *MGZMD 523. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}