- unitid
-
{"value"=>"186294", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 565", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b23434982", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1970-2021", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1970/2021"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Lotus Music and Dance records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"17 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"7.08 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Jerome Robbins Dance Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Lotus Music and Dance is a New York City-based performance and education center for traditional and indigenous performing art forms. The records chronicle the promotion and recording of rehearsals, shows, workshops, and events, and also include reference materials for a wide variety of traditional music and dance styles. The Lotus Music and Dance records consist of production files, publicity materials, photographs, and audio and moving image recordings."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Lotus Music and Dance", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Founded in 1989 by master bharatanatyam artist Kamala Cesar, Lotus Music and Dance is a non-profit organization designed to promote understanding, appreciation, and the preservation of traditional and indigenous performing art forms. Originally established as the Balasaraswati School of Music and Dance for bharatanatyam, Lotus programs now include odissi, kathak, hula, flamenco, belly dance, and Burmese, Chinese, and Korean folk dances. The organization hosts multicultural performances, instruction in over twenty traditional performing art forms, and children's workshops at schools.</p> <p>Lotus frequently collaborates with the Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community and its founder, Thomas R. Porter (Sakokwenionkwas, \"The One Who Wins\") in upstate New York; the Polynesian dance and cultural group Lei Pasifika; Kinding Sindaw, a foundation focused on the cultural art forms of the indigenous Maranao people of Mindanao, Southern Philippines; and Danza España/The American Spanish Dance Theatre, founded in 1979 by Lotus flamenco instructor Andrea Del Conte.</p> <p>Lotus instructors, students, and guest artists often showcase their work via multicultural performances and celebrations. In addition to frequent open house nights and student recitals, Lotus dancers choreograph and perform original multicultural works. Some of the recurring performances include <span class=\"title\">Eagle Spirit</span>, which honors the Mohawk high steel workers of the twentieth century; <span class=\"title\">Nacho Nacho</span> (flamenco, kathak, and North Indian music); <span class=\"title\">Asian Dialogue</span> (bharatnatyam, kathak, Burmese court dance, Chinese, and Japanese dances); <span class=\"title\">Along the Caravan Route</span> (flamenco, kathak, and Middle Eastern dance), and <span class=\"title\">The World in the City: Dancing Across Cultural Borders</span>. One of the largest recurring shows Lotus has staged is the multicultural production of the Hindu epic the <span class=\"title\">Ramayana</span>, which showcases Burmese court dance, bharatanatyam, odissi, and Mindanao dance.</p> <p>In addition to dance form classes, cultural workshops, educational programs, and performance events held throughout the year, Lotus has hosted Drums Along the Hudson (DAH), a multicultural performance art celebration, annually since 2002. DAH originally began as a celebration of indigenous art and culture to commemorate the Lenape people who first inhabited Inwood Hill Park, or Shorakapok (\"edge of the water\"). The festival now features dancers, food, crafts, and storytelling from around the world. Lotus and the Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community also co-host the Mohawk Harvest Festival and the Mohawk Strawberry Festival.</p> <p>Dancers and musicians who have taught regularly at Lotus include founder Kamala Cesar (bharatanatyam), Bani Ray (odissi), Parul Shah (kathak), Daisy Paradis (sitar and Hindustani vocals), Xiaoling Yang (Chinese folk dance), Yokoe Onoe and Momo Suzuki (Japanese dance), U Win Maung (Burmese dance), Ramzi El-Edlibi (Middle Eastern dance), Andrea Del Conte (flamenco), and Caren Vietta Calder (West African dance).</p> <p>Lotus Music and Dance often hosts visiting guest artists for week-long residencies, during which time they teach classes, perform, and give lectures on their performing art. The center is also frequently a stop on national tours for traveling artists. Guest artists who have taught or toured at Lotus include I Nyomen Wenton (Balinese dance), Nandini Ramani (bharatanatyam), and Arjun Misra (kathak).</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Lotus Music and Dance records dates from 1970 to 2021 and consist of performance files, publicity materials, photographs, and audio and moving image recordings. The materials are arranged into four series: Performances; Teaching; Promotion and Publicity Files; and Music and Dance Forms.</p> <p>The collection is intended to serve as both an archive of events hosted by Lotus as well as a referential collection for the music and dance styles that the organization promotes. In addition to recordings of traditional dances and musical pieces, materials in this collection document the costumes, jewelry, hair and makeup, positions, hand gestures/mudras, and history of traditional forms of music and dance from around the world. Bharatanatyam, odissi, flamenco, Mindanao/indigenous Filipino dances, dances of the Mohawk nation, and Burmese court dances are particularly well represented. The physical files supplement the audio and moving image recordings, and were collected as reference materials for those items. Programs and other event ephemera can be used to identify performance titles, performers, dance styles, and dates of the audio and moving image materials.</p> <p>The collection does not contain administrative materials related to the finances, organizational structure, personnel procedures, or performance planning logistics of the organization or of the events it hosts. Correspondence is minimal and limited to letters of introduction from artists hoping to teach or secure a residency at Lotus.</p> <p>The container list utilizes original folder titles and arrangement as much as possible.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Lotus Music and Dance records are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/186294#c1761570'>Series I: Performances</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1994-2004</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series I, dating from 1994 to 2004 and comprising the bulk of the collection, contains photographs and recordings of music and dance performances by Lotus instructors, guest artists, and students at organization events. The materials are arranged chronologically by performance date, with unidentified and undated performances listed at the end.</p> <p>When performances highlight a single dancer or art style, the titles are taken from the dancer or style's name. If the piece is a multicultural performance, titles typically refer to a common thematic element, such as the use of fans as props in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Philippines, and Spanish dance (Fans in Dance), or are taken from ancient epics the performances are based on (the <span class=\"title\">Ramayana</span> and the <span class=\"title\">Maharadia Lawana</span>). Multicultural performance titles are broad and nonspecific in order to emphasize the variety of styles present in the production: Portrait in Dance is a showcase of solo dances from Burmese court dance, Chinese dance, Korean Zen dance, and flamenco.</p> <p>Of particular note are early script drafts, notes on choreography related to Lotus' production of the Ramayana, and edited video recordings broadcast on QPTV (Queens Public Television); Eagle Spirit rehearsals and performances; and recordings of over five years of performances at the annual Drums Along the Hudson festival.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/186294#c1761592'>Series II: Teaching</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1985-2003</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series, dating from 1985 to 2021, contains materials related to the courses offered at Lotus and the regular instructors. Series II holds photographs, correspondence, clippings, recordings of classes, interviews with instructors, and resumes. Class materials are arranged chronologically, with undated items held at the end. Instructor materials are arranged alphabetically by last name.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/186294#c1761612'>Series III: Promotion and Publicity Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1985-2021</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Promotion and Publicity series contains newsletters, annual reports, programs, posters, flyers, and photographs used to promote Lotus events and performances. Video editing logs of promotional tapes compiled from video footage by Lotus staff are also included. Documentation notebooks were compiled as part of the organization's annual reports and contain a one-page summary of the previous fiscal year written by Kamala Cesar, noting total yearly performance and class attendance numbers; major productions; radio and television broadcast numbers; and other organization highlights. The series is arranged chronologically.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/dan/186294#c1761662'>Series IV: Music and Dance Forms</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1970-2004</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Notes and reference materials related to the different dance and music styles performed at Lotus are held in Series IV. Organized alphabetically by topic, the series holds photographs; photocopied articles about history and techniques of dance and music styles performed at Lotus; correspondence; press kits; and clippings. Original titles were retained, resulting in an inconsistency with the specificity of folder titles. Some performing arts styles, such as bharatanatyam and Mohawk dances, have unique folders dedicated solely to that style. Other folders are dedicated to general geographic regions and contain a few reference materials for multiple performing art styles, such as the folders for African dance and Japanese music. Item level scope notes name as many specific performing art styles as could be discerned from the materials.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Kamala Cesar in 2022.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Em Longan</span> in <span class=\"date\">2024</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>"}
- date_start
-
1970
- keydate
-
1970
- date_end
-
2021
- date_inclusive_start
-
1970
- date_inclusive_end
-
2021
- extent_statement
-
7.08 linear feet (17 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Lotus Music and Dance records, *MGZMD 565. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}