Scope and arrangement
The Gus Solomons papers and Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. records, dating from the 1950s to 2000s, document the career of Gus Solomons (1938 -), choreographer, dancer of environmental and post-modern dance and teacher, and the Gus Solomons Company/Dance, Inc. The collection includes correspondence, notes, notebooks, photographs, printed matter, and audio and moving image materials.
The collection mostly reflects Solomons and the Company's productions in the United States and abroad. As the files indicate, these performances were held at colleges, universities, theatres, and other performance venues. Simultaneously, Solomons would offer workshops in dance and choreography. Related material includes the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) files consisting of evaluation forms for dancers and dance companies that Gus Solomons prepared. The files also indicate that Solomons was the recipient of many residencies at colleges and universities as indicative of being widely recognized in the performing arts.
The Correspondence Files hold letters from fellow artists and friends, business associates and family. These letters include reactions to Solomons or the Company's performances, and general news on current events.
The Alphabetical Files hold material on Solomons performances from his early years including the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; solo performances; and Paradigm. These files also include documentation on the Solomons Company/Dance productions including Fatstick, Gut Boys, Red Squalls I, and Red Squalls II.
The Teaching and Residencies files include information about where Solomons taught dance and choreography. It reflects Solomons as a respected and in-demand teacher and lecturer at universities and colleges throughout the United States and abroad. Researchers should also examine the Alphabetical files for additional teaching opportunities offered to Solomons.
The Writings have extensive notes created by Solomons for his choreography work for the productions. Solomons writings also reflect that he was a critic for several leading publications including Dance, and The Village Voice. There are also examples of crossword puzzles that he created for publications.
The Photographs mostly reflect Gus Solomons Jr. and the Solomons Company/Dance. Solomons was documented throughout his career as an artist and choreographer. The black and white photographs capture Solomons' solo performances, studio rehearsals, and the productions of the Solomons Company/Dance. Many of the photographs are credited to the photographers who sent batches of pictures for his approval before being used for publicity. While not as extensive as the Solomons Company/Dance, there are photographs taken of the productions of Paradigm. Another group of photographs are color snapshots taken by Solomons during his travels for work. These photographs are mostly city sights, fellow artists, and local events.
The Family Photographs and Papers document Solomons' family. These photographs include pictures of Gus Solomons as a young child and teenager, his parents and other relatives, and family related documents.
The collection holds some posters and drawings by Solomons.
Audio and Moving Image Materials hold videos, sound recordings and film that extensively documents the Gus Solomons Company/Dance through productions, and studio rehearsals. There are materials for Paradigm, interviews of Solomons, and workshops that he conducted. There is also a podcast by Paradigm.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following groups: Correspondence; Alphabetical Files; Teaching and Residencies; Writings; Photographs; Family Photographs and Papers; Audio and Moving Image Material.