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Creator
Harkness Ballet
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 553
Physical description
1.25 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Harkness Ballet programs and press, (S) *MGZMD 553. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Harkness Ballet was a dance company founded by the American philanthropist, Rebekah Harkness. The collection dates from 1955 to 1985, and chronicles the ballet company's performances through photographs, press packets, and programs. The collection also holds some photographs and programs from the Harkness Ballet School.

Biographical/historical information

Rebekah Harkness (1915-1982) founded the Rebekah Harkness Foundation (later renamed the Harkness Ballet Foundation, and then the Harkness Foundation for Dance) in the 1960s, which funded many dance performances, festivals, and beginning in 1964, the Harkness Ballet. The Harkness Ballet's debut performance was in Cannes, France in 1965. They continued to perform throughout Europe before making their New York debut in 1967. The company showcased many prominent dancers including Maria Eglevsky, Lone Isaksen, Judith Jamison, Finis Jhung, Lawrence Rhodes, Brunilda Ruiz, and Helgi Tomasson. The Harkness Ballet performed its final season in 1974 at the recently established Harkness Theatre, which Rebekah Harkness had purchased and renovated two years prior. The Harkness Ballet officially dissolved and ceased performances in 1975.

In 1965, Rebekah Harkness also founded Harkness House for Ballet Arts, a rehearsal and instructional studio located in a mansion she purchased on East 75th Street in Manhattan. This space also housed the Harkness Ballet School, which remained in operation until 1985. The Harkness Ballet Foundation is still in operation, and awards grants to dance companies, organizations, and educators in New York City.

Scope and arrangement

The collection dates from 1955 to 1981, and holds photographs, press packets, and programs that showcase the Harkness Ballet's performances and tours. The collection also contains some programs that pre-date the company's existence, as well as photographs and programs from the Harkness Ballet School.

The photographs included in the collection depict dancers and performances by the Harkness Ballet Company. Some of the productions include A Season in Hell, Ariadne, The Brood, Daughters of the Garden, Debussy, Feast of Ashes, Firebird, Golden Age, Koshare, Landscape for Lovers, Macumba, Night Song, Sarabande, Sebastian, Shadows, Souvenirs, Time Out of Mind, Suite Ecossaise, Time Out of Mind, Le Venta Quemada, and Yemanja. Among the dancer depicted are Christopher Aponte, Manola Asensio, Elizabeth Carroll, Clara Cravey, Panchita Deperi, Linda Di Bona, Hester Fitzgerald, Helen Heinman, Chris Jensen, Miyoko Kato, Alexis Hoff, Ali Pourfarrokh, Lawrence Rhodes, Tina Santos, Jonathan Sternberg, Maria Tallchief, Helgi Tomasson, Tanju Tuzer, Jeanette Vondersaar, Richard Wolf, and Gary Wahl. The photographs are arranged together into folders labeled as "old" and "new" There is also a folder of some images of students at the Harkness Ballet School

The press packets are from 1965 and 1966 tours of Europe and the United States, and contain press quotes and clippings from various performances. The press packets also feature information about the Harkness House for Ballet Arts, the Rebekah Harkness Foundation, a list of the dances that were performed, the dancers on the tour, and the ballet staff members.

The programs date from 1955 to 1974, and consist mostly of programs from performances by the Harkness Ballet Company. There are also programs from three performances composed by Rebekah Harkness prior to forming the Harkness Ballet, Safari (1955), Mediterranean Moods (1957), and Journey to Love (1958). There are programs from performances that span the Harkness Ballet company's entire run as a dance company from 1964 to 1975. There is also a brochure for the Harkness School of Ballet from the 1984 to 1985 semester. All programs are arranged chronologically.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by the Harkness Ballet Foundation in 1987.

Related Material

Harkness Ballet Company photographs, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library *MGZEB 21-0028.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor