Scope and arrangement
The Domy Reiter-Soffer papers cover the years 1964 through 2008 and contain biographical information, correspondence, photographs, reviews, and programs, mostly pertaining to ballet performances Reiter-Soffer choreographed. The articles, reviews, and correspondence are photocopies from originals and the performance programs are originals with some exceptions.
Among the biographical information is a short biography of Reiter-Soffer, including details of his training, studies, acting career, dancing career, directorial career, opera staging, choreography, television and film work, painting career, and stage design. The files also hold a list of ballets he's choreographed, which includes the title, musical composer, company, and date. Biographical articles review his work as an international choreographer for companies such as the Irish Ballet Company, Ballet Metropolitan, and the Bat-Dor Company.
Domy Reiter-Soffer's correspondence provides a general discussion of his work with companies such as the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Australian Ballet, and the Irish National Ballet. The correspondence particularly focuses on his ballet Equus. The correspondence also mentions Lady of the Camellias (1978) performed by the Irish National Ballet and Chariots of Fire (1978).
The reviews and programs include documentation from 1964 to 2008 on Domy Reiter-Soffer choreographed productions. Most reviews are in English with one in German and another in Croatian. There are varying amounts of material for each production and the files do not cover all of Reiter-Soffer's work. The material is arranged by title and includes documentation of multiple productions by different dance companies. In some cases there is very little documentation of the production. Of particular interest to researchers will be documentation of the production Equus (1980), performed by the Maryland Ballet (1980), Dance Theatre of Harlem (1981), the Australian Ballet (1984), and the Alberta Ballet (1992). The file for Paradise Gained contains reviews, programs, and a synopsis along with a copied letter from Colette's daughter, Colette de Jouvenel to Domy Reiter-Soffer (May 31, 1980) in which she describes her first meeting with Reiter-Soffer and his love for her mother.
Photographs of rehearsals and production stills accompany the reviews and programs for some productions.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Research Collection holds a video recording of Equus, choreographed by Domy Reiter-Soffer. Additional materials related to Reiter-Soffer can be found by performing a keyword search for "Reiter-Soffer, Domy" in the library's catalog.
Selected correspondence and reviews within these papers can be found on Domy Reiter-Soffer's website: http://www.domyrs.com.
Arrangement
The Domy Reiter-Soffer papers are arranged according to document type: biographical articles, correspondence, and reviews and programs. The reviews and programs are arranged together by production title.