Scope and arrangement
The collection dates from 2000 to 2011 and contains the administrative records of Illume Productions and interview transcripts, photographs, production materials, promotional documents, and research files related to Dance Cuba. These materials document the research, production, promotion and funding of the film; contain information concerning the operations of Illume Productions; and provide insight into the careers of the dancers profiled in the collection's interviews.
The Illume Productions records consist of administrative materials regarding the company's daily operations, and project proposals for films the company considered producing. The administrative files contain budgets, financial statements, and projections which relate to the financing of Dance Cuba. The administrative records are arranged chronologically, while the Projects and Proposals are arranged by their working titles.
The Interviews files contain transcripts of interviews conducted for Dance Cuba. Most interviews were translated into Spanish or English, and are found in both languages. There are also interviews included that were not featured in the final cut of the film. These files are arranged alphabetically by interviewee last name or subject matter.
The collection holds many photographs, which includes contact sheets, digital images, negatives, prints, and slides. The images depict dancers, dance rehearsals, performances, Cuban landscapes, and the film's production staff. There is also a selection of photographs which were arranged alphabetically by subject matter or name. All other photographs are arranged chronologically.
The production files include include releases, shoot schedules, video indexes, and video log files. Some of the logs describe scene breakdowns on individual video tapes, while others index archival footage that was utilized. These files also hold action lists, call sheets, camera notes, contact information, crew lists, insurance information, script notes, production reports, and financial data relevant to each particular shoot. There are files for scenes shot at the Washington Ballet, B-roll shot in Havana, and interviews filmed with Septime Webre, Carlos Acosta, and Alicia Alonso. Additionally, there is audio and moving image materials which include master tapes, raw footage, interviews, and historical footage that were not included in the film.
The Promotion and Press files feature materials related to the marketing and promotion of Dance Cuba, as well as press garnered by the film. Included are marketing files; photographs from press conferences; flyers and photographs from screenings and film festivals; and promotional video reels.
The Research files contain a small collection of programs from dance performances in both the United States and Cuba. These files hold programs for a performance of La Realidad y El Mito autographed by Miguel Cabrera, a 2001 performance by the Ballet Nacional de Cuba at The Kennedy Center, a performance at the American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House, and Festival Internacional de Ballet de La Habana. There are also clippings of articles and interviews, a few posters from dance performances, and an index of archival photographs.
Arrangement
Files are arranged chronologically by topic. Interview files and photographs are arranged alphabetically by name or subject matter.