Scope and arrangement
The Dance Magazine photographs chronicle the magazine's coverage of people, productions, dance companies and schools, events, and theater buildings from the 1950s to 1992. The majority of the photographs feature dance companies, as well as individuals associated with the dance industry. However, there are some photographs of pop stars; theater buildings from around the world; and musical, film, and television productions present in the collection. The photographs consist mostly of professionally-shot black-and-white prints with a few negatives and two pamphlets.
The Dance Companies, Schools, and Buildings grouping dates from the 1950s to 1992, and includes mainly prints of ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and tap dance companies, based in North America, Europe, and East Asia. The bulk of the photographs depict rehearsals and performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, San Francisco Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. Professional headshots are interfiled with rehearsal and performance prints. There are some prints of students taking classes at various dance schools, and the interiors and exteriors of various theater buildings.
The Individuals grouping spans from the 1950s to 1992, and covers photoshoots and headshots of people from the dance, film, music, and theater industries. Present are dancers, composers, singers, actors, set designers, producers, choreographers, models, and directors. Depending on the occupation of the individual, there are some prints of rehearsals, performances, and sets. Americans are heavily represented, with some East Asians and Europeans. Of note are Judy Garland, Tamara Toumanova, Maurice Béjart, Dance Magazine editors, and winners of the Dance Magazine Awards.
The Productions and Events grouping dates from 1956 to 1992, and records stage, musical, film, and television productions; dance festivals and competitions; galas and benefits; and museum exhibitions covered by Dance Magazine. Of note are prints from the 1992 New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Balanchine exhibition and a New York Public Library for the Performing Arts benefit.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically with the following three groupings: Dance Companies, Schools, and Buildings; Individuals; and Productions and Events.