- unitid
-
{"value"=>"19850", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 214", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b16788005", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1950s-2000s", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1950/2009"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Gus Solomons papers and the Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"75 boxes, 5 tubes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"25.25 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"259 computer files", "unit"=>"computer_files"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"1241.1 megabytes", "unit"=>"megabytes"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Jerome Robbins Dance Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Gus Solomons Jr. was an African-American dancer, choreographer, teacher, and writer. Solomons was a soloist in the dance companies of Donald McKayle, Pearl Lang, Martha Graham and, most notably, Merce Cunningham. Solomons formed his own troupe, The Solomons Company/Dance in 1972. Twenty-four years later in 1996, Solomons founded Paradigm to celebrate mature artists on stage. The collection includes correspondence, Solomons articles, notes and notebooks, photographs, posters, drawings, audio and moving image materials."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Solomons, Gus, Jr., 1940-", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gus Solomons Jr. (1940-2023) was an African-American choreographer and dancer of environmental and post-modern dance. His early training in dance began while attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One of his first teachers was E. Virginia Williams, the founder of the Boston Ballet Company. In 1961, he received his degree in architecture. Solomons moved to New York City and became a soloist in the dance companies of Donald McKayle, Pearl Lang, Martha Graham and, most notably, Merce Cunningham.</p> <p>In 1969, Solomons formed his own company The Solomons Company/Dance creating over one hundred fifty-five original works as well as dances commissioned by professional companies across North America. His choreography has been performed Off-Broadway, on television and for dual-screen video dance pieces. The Company ceased operations in 1994.</p> <p>In 1996, Solomons created Paradigm, a new trio company, with Carmen DeLavallade, Dudley Williams and himself. The purpose of creating this company was to celebrate mature artists on stage. Among Solomons' achievements was receiving the 2000 Bessie for Sustained Achievement in Choreography. In March 2001 he was awarded the first annual Robert A. Muh Award from his alma mater, MIT, as a distinguished artist alumnus.</p> <p>Solomons contributed to several books on dance and wrote for <span class=\"title\">Ballet News</span> and <span class=\"title\">Instep</span>. He also reviewed and wrote for <span class=\"title\">Dance Magazine</span>, <span class=\"title\">Chronicle of Higher Education</span>, <span class=\"title\">Village Voice</span>, and the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span>. In addition to teaching, touring, guest-performing, and lecturing, Solomons served frequently as an adjudicator and dance panelist for various state arts councils, artistic advisory boards, and foundations, including the National Endowment for the Arts.</p> <p>Solomons died on August 11, 2023 in Manhattan.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Gus Solomons papers and Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. records, dating from the 1950s to 2000s, document the career of Gus Solomons (1938 -), choreographer, dancer of environmental and post-modern dance and teacher, and the Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. The collection includes correspondence, notes, notebooks, photographs, printed matter, and audio and moving image materials.</p> <p>The collection mostly reflects Solomons and the Company's productions in the United States and abroad. As the files indicate, these performances were held at colleges, universities, theatres, and other performance venues. Simultaneously, Solomons would offer workshops in dance and choreography. Related material includes the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) files consisting of evaluation forms for dancers and dance companies that Gus Solomons prepared. The files also indicate that Solomons was the recipient of many residencies at colleges and universities as indicative of being widely recognized in the performing arts.</p> <p>The Correspondence Files hold letters from fellow artists and friends, business associates and family. These letters include reactions to Solomons or the Company's performances, and general news on current events.</p> <p>The Alphabetical Files hold material on Solomons performances from his early years including the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; solo performances; and Paradigm. These files also include documentation on the Solomons Company/Dance productions including <span class=\"title\">Fatstick</span>, <span class=\"title\">Gut Boys</span>, <span class=\"title\"> Red Squalls I,</span> and <span class=\"title\">Red Squalls II</span>.</p> <p>The Teaching and Residencies files include information about where Solomons taught dance and choreography. It reflects Solomons as a respected and in-demand teacher and lecturer at universities and colleges throughout the United States and abroad. Researchers should also examine the Alphabetical files for additional teaching opportunities offered to Solomons.</p> <p>The Writings have extensive notes created by Solomons for his choreography work for the productions. Solomons writings also reflect that he was a critic for several leading publications including <span class=\"title\">Dance</span>, and <span class=\"title\">The Village Voice</span>. There are also examples of crossword puzzles that he created for publications.</p> <p> The Photographs mostly reflect Gus Solomons Jr. and the Solomons Company/Dance. Solomons was documented throughout his career as an artist and choreographer. The black and white photographs capture Solomons' solo performances, studio rehearsals, and the productions of the Solomons Company/Dance. Many of the photographs are credited to the photographers who sent batches of pictures for his approval before being used for publicity. While not as extensive as the Solomons Company/Dance, there are photographs taken of the productions of Paradigm. Another group of photographs are color snapshots taken by Solomons during his travels for work. These photographs are mostly city sights, fellow artists, and local events.</p> <p>The Family Photographs and Papers document Solomons' family. These photographs include pictures of Gus Solomons as a young child and teenager, his parents and other relatives, and family related documents.</p> <p>The collection holds some posters and drawings by Solomons.</p> <p>Audio and Moving Image Materials hold videos, sound recordings and film that extensively documents the Gus Solomons Company/Dance through productions, and studio rehearsals. There are materials for Paradigm, interviews of Solomons, and workshops that he conducted. There is also a podcast by Paradigm.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged into the following groups: Correspondence; Alphabetical Files; Teaching and Residencies; Writings; Photographs; Family Photographs and Papers; Audio and Moving Image Material.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Gus Solomons Papers and The Gus Solomons Company/Dance Inc. records were donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 1996 and 2020 by Gus Solomons, Jr.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Audio and Moving Image from the original acquisition was separated. Inquiries may be directed to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processsed by <span class=\"name\">Leslie Reyman</span> in <span class=\"date\">2008</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>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</p>"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>" Additions processed by Valerie Wingfield. ", "date"=>"2021"}
- date_start
-
1950
- keydate
-
1950
- date_end
-
2009
- date_inclusive_start
-
1950
- date_inclusive_end
-
2009
- extent_statement
-
25.25 linear feet (75 boxes, 5 tubes). 1241.1 megabytes (259 computer files)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Gus Solomons papers and the Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. records, *MGZMD 214. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}