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Creator
Rochon, Valerie J.
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 142
Physical description
7.38 linear feet (18 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Valerie Rochon Papers, (S)*MGZMD 142. 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.Restrictions apply

Valerie Rochon was the originator and director of the mid-1980s African American Dance Directory Project. This project, which operated under support of the New York Foundation for the Arts, was designed as a comprehensive resource that would serve as a research and marketing tool for, and regarding, African American dance companies. This collection contains correspondence, administrative, financial, and source materials on dance companies, presenters, and sponsors as well as a minor amount or personal materials.

Biographical/historical information

Valerie Jerusha Rochon was the director of the mid-1980s African American Dance Directory Project. Rochon designed this project, which operated under support of the New York Foundation for the Arts, as a three-stage endeavor to compile a comprehensive resource that would serve as a research and marketing tool for, and regarding, African American dance companies performing modern, jazz, tap, ballet, and African Folkloric dance. Rochon also designed the directory to include commissioned essays and art work as well as maintain publication of an essay-based newsletter titled Movements. It appears that only one issue of Movements was ever published. Ultimately Rochon was unable to complete the directory as envisioned; however, a preliminary edition containing partial information was published in 1986.

Valerie Rochon’s personal papers and clippings files show an interest in African-American and minority-based cultural development, arts, and politics. Valerie Rochon received her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Education and Dance from Arizona State University-Tempe and followed this with additional courses towards a Master’s Degree. Rochon then proceeded to find employment in a variety of arts based positions. From 1976 to 1980, she worked as a dance teacher for the Phoenix Union High School District in Phoenix Arizona. From 1980-1981, she served as Administrative Assistant for the Wajumbe Cultural Institution in San Francisco, California. In 1982, she worked as a Volunteer Coordinator for the Brooklyn Academy of Music and was responsible for communications between African American dance companies. In addition, Rochon once worked with Eno Washington in a cultural project known as the Mighty Eno Enterprises.

Even though the African American Dance Directory never came to fruition as she planned, Rochon continued to collect dance materials for the project until the year 2000. She also maintained her ties to the African American dance community. In the late 1980s, Rochon served as an artist’s representative of the management agency Bess Pruit & Associates, Inc. In 1996, while she was a Dance Teacher for I. S. 90 in New York City, Rochon served as contact person for visiting dancers from the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Fieldston Dance Company.

Scope and arrangement

The Valerie Rochon Papers primarily consists of materials related to the development of the African-American Dance Directory. Most of these materials focus on the years between 1983 and 1987. The first mailing for the project went out to companies in 1984 and the preliminary edition of the directory was published in 1986. Materials include correspondence, administrative information, financial information, source information on dance companies and supporting arts agencies, and clippings.

The collection also includes a minor amount of personal materials and a small number of clippings related to African-American and minority-based cultural development, arts, and politics.

The Valerie Rochon papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: African - American Dance Directory
    1973 - 2000
    16.5 boxes

    Valerie Rochon designed the African American Dance Directory as a comprehensive resource for, and regarding, African American dance companies performing modern, jazz, tap, ballet, and African Folkloric dance. The project was supported by the New York Foundation for the Arts as well as by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Rochon envisioned a directory that would equally be a dance resource and a marketing tool for the profiled companies and individual researchers. The directory was designed to contain detailed information on all African American dance companies as well as sponsors, and funding agencies. In addition, Rochon planned to commission original essays and art for the directory. In 1985, the directory project published an edition of the newsletter Movements. This newsletter was to serve as an information exchange between the African American dance community and the general public through essays and listings. It does not appear than another edition was ever published. Ultimately Rochon was unable to complete the directory as envisioned; however, a preliminary edition containing partial information was published in 1986. Materials in this series correspond to all aspects of the development of the African American Dance Directory. Rochon’s labels were maintained wherever possible.

  • Series II: Personal Materials
    1978 - 1996
    1.5 boxes

    This series contains materials unrelated to the African American Dance Directory. Materials include personal correspondence, an early resume, and a headshot as well as information related to Valerie Rochon’s working relationship with Eno Washington. Materials also include loose clippings and a scrapbook primarily focused on African American cultural, political issues and apartheid. The scrapbook materials were housed in a 1976 published blank book titled The Nothing Book.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The Valerie Rochon Papers were donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2001 by Valerie Rochon.

Processing information

Processed by Whitney E. Berman; Machine-readable finding aid created by Whitney E. Berman.

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

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.