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Creator
Kosloff, Alexis
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 342
Physical description
.25 linear feet (1 box)
Preferred Citation

Alexis Kosloff papers, (S) *MGZMD 342. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
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Alexis Kosloff (circa 1888-1983) was a dancer, instructor, writer, and choreographer. The Alexis Kosloff papers (1905-1951) hold sheet music, photographs, programs, publications, promotional materials, writings, clippings, and correspondence documenting Kosloff’s teaching career.

Biographical/historical information

Russian born Alexis Kosloff (circa 1888-1983) was a dancer, instructor, writer, and choreographer who began his career in the Imperial Russian Ballet. Kosloff arrived in New York in 1915 at age 27. He immediately opened Kosloff Dancing Studio at 24 West 57th Street where he taught all levels and forms of dance. He was also the dance master of the Metropolitan Opera Company from 1922 to 1929.

In addition to teaching, Kosloff composed music for dance and also authored the book Russian Ballet Technique in 1921, which was intended for home instruction and reference. Kosloff's aim was to clearly and analytically describe every fundamental step of classical dancing.

Kosloff retired in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York and died in 1983.

Scope and arrangement

The Alexis Kosloff papers (1919-1957) document Kosloff’s career as a dance instructor and consists of correspondence, photographs, programs and publications, sheet music, and writings.

The photographs make up the bulk of the collection and include images of Kosloff, former students, and studios, as well as rehearsal, production, and publicity shots of dancers. Some photographs of dancers or performers are autographed. There is also a photograph of a gold mine in Siberia.

Programs and publications consist of a literary journal titled The Russian Student from 1929, promotional material for company performances and Kosloff’s dance studio, and a small amount of press clippings. A chapter from an unpublished manuscript titled The Talisman by Karl William Zoeller in 1935 and its adaptation for performance is also here. Writings hold Kosloff’s notes in Russian as well as his book Russian Ballet Technique.

Correspondence holds incoming letters in Russian as well as an unsigned satirical drawing of dancers. Sheet music includes Kosloff’s Dagger Dance as well as manuscript pages for an untitled work.

Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of the Historical Society of Woodstock, 2011

Processing information

Compiled by Jennifer A. Ferretti, Pratt Institute 2014, 2013

The original order of papers was maintained.

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

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Dance Division at dance@nypl.org.