- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*MGZMD 311", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1930-2003", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1930/2003"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1930
- date_inclusive_end
-
2003
- keydate
-
1930
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury Papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"3.19 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"8 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</span><div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center</span><span class=\"addressline\">40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury collection contains a partial autobiography, family photographs, publicity, career related photographs, printed matter, and some correspondence relating to the life and career of Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury (1930-2003) an Indian folk dancer, choreographer, actor, writer and painter."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury Papers, *MGZMD 311. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury, 1930-", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury (1930-2003) was an Indian folk dancer, choreographer, actor, writer and painter. Born in Madras, India (now Chennai, India), Chowdhury descended from Indian royalty. His parents were D.P. Roy Chowdhury, a renowned painter and sculptor, and Charulata Roy Chowdhury. Prior to establishing a career as a dancer, he briefly pursued boxing as a welterweight. As a folk dancer, Chowdhury specialized in several types of south Indian dance styles, the Bharata Natyam, Kathakali, Kathak and Manipuri. In 1949, Chowdhury (sometimes referred to as Bhaskar, especially later in life) formed his own dance company and simultaneously pursued a film career.</p> <p>In 1955, Chowdhury emigrated to the United States, to continue his successful career as a dancer and choreographer. In 1962, he formed Bhaskar-Dances of India. Chowdhury also continued his career as a professional actor and appeared in several films and television shows.</p> <p>Throughout his career as a dancer and choreographer, Chowdhury danced with many partners including Sasha, Candace Hibbard, Carolyn Kay, Janet Kaylo and Shala Mattingly. From 1965 to 1975, Chowdhury danced with Shala F. Mattingly. Chowhury performed extensively in the United States and abroad. He built an international reputation as a premier dancer of Indian folk dances.</p> <p>At the height of Chowdhury's career, disaster struck on October 25, 1977. During a lighting rehearsal, Chowdhury fell backwards twenty-six feet into a blacked out orchestra's pit at Purdue University. This near fatal accident broke his back in four places, and both arms and ankles. He was paralyzed, for life, from the waist down. While recuperating in St. Elizabeth's hospital, he received more bad news. His right arm was not healing properly and had to be broken again. After his release from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Bhaskar received extensive rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU. His friends and Mark La Roche (d. 1991), his partner for thirty years, helped Bhaskar through those dark months.</p> <p>For a time, Bhaskar continued to choreograph his dance company. With Bhaskar no longer on center stage, revenues fell and the company closed by 1980. In recognition of his contributions to the world of dance, Bhaskar received the prestigious Ruth St. Denis award, in 1979. Bhaskar refocused to become a fine arts painter and writer. His writings include children's stories notably \"Fables of India,\" and numerous articles for a variety of publications. Bhaskar would periodically donate his paintings to charities so that the funds raised would go to support the disabled.</p> <p>Chowdhury would became a naturalized American citizen. In 1957, he married Joan W. Harper (d. 1963). In 2003, Chowdhury died at the age of seventy-two in New York City.</p>"}
- custodhist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection was donated by Shala F. Mattingly, a close friend and former dance partner of Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection which dates from 1930 to 2003, focuses on the personal and professional life of Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury (1930-2003), an Indian folk dancer, choreographer, actor, writer and fine arts painter. The files hold an incomplete handwritten autobiography, spanning his life from childhood to his paralyzing accident. Chowdhury's family life of wealth and privilege in Madras, India (now Chennai, India) is documented through family photographs. There are also several photographs of Chowdhury's return visits to his parents in India.</p> <p>Chowdhury's dance career in India and the United States is documented through photographs, programs, and articles. Of his many dance partners, information is broadest on \"Bhaskar and Shala\" (Shala F. Mattingly). To a lesser extent, Bhaskar's film career is revealed in the photographs and reviews.</p> <p>The latter part of the collection focuses on Bhaskar's post-dance career as a fine arts painter and author. There are extensive photographs of the paintings (many of the pictures were taken by Mattingly) and several black and white sketches. As an author, Bhaskar wrote on a variety of topics for newspapers and magazines. One notable article was \"My Friend and I\" written seven months after his accident. This article was about a conversation that he had with his wheelchair that would now become part of his life. Bhaskar's other writings include \"Fables of India,\" a series of children's stories. As a world renowned artist, whose dance career suddenly ended, many articles were written about him. The remainder of the collection includes a few letters relating to the accident, a tribute from La Meri on Bhaskar receiving the St. Denis award, and photographs of Bhaskar, mostly later in life, in his apartment in New York City</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Arranged by subject.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Shala F. Mattingly, 2005.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Valerie Wingfield.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Valerie Wingfield.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
3.19 linear feet (8 boxes)
- date_start
-
1930
- date_end
-
2003