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Creator
Zall, Deborah
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 520
Physical description
1.3 linear feet (3 boxes); 2.5 gigabytes (1469 computer files)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Deborah Zall papers, (S) *MGZMD 520. 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

Deborah Zall (1933-2018) was an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher known for her dramatic solo works depicting historical and fictional women. The Deborah Zall papers contain materials from 1947 to 2017 that trace her career, including articles, programs, photographs, correspondence, professional documents, and audio and video recordings.

Biographical/historical information

Deborah Zall was an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher known for her dramatic solo works depicting historical and fictional women. Born in 1933, she trained at the Juilliard School, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, and Martha Graham School under Graham herself before pursuing an independent career. Zall's solo works include La Bonne Dame, about the author George Sand, and Mary Tyrone, based on the character from Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. In addition to her independent work, she guested at dance companies, choreographed works for other dancers, and collaborated with Bertram Ross on several projects. Zall also performed works by fellow Graham students, such as Anna Sokolow's Kaddish and Yuriko's The Cry. In 2014, she formed her own ensemble, the Deborah Zall Project: In the Company of Women, consisting mostly of former members of the Graham School. Zall taught dance at various institutions throughout her career, notably Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts from 1994 to 2011. She died in 2018.

Scope and arrangement

The Deborah Zall papers contain materials from 1947 to 2017 that trace her career, including articles, programs, photographs, professional documents, and correspondence. There are also video recordings of performances and audio recordings of music accompaniment, as well as some rehearsal videos and documentaries.

Articles include reviews of performances, profiles, and interviews with Zall about her dancing and choreographic work.

Programs are mostly for Zall's performances, including solo works, festival appearances, and collaborations with dance companies. There are several programs for schools where Zall taught or that she attended.

Photographs primarily include performance shots and in costume portraits. Some photographs show Zall teaching and rehearsing, as well as other dancers. A number of photographs feature Zall performing and rehearsing Martha Graham's Lamentation.

Professional documents consist of resumes, press releases, scripts, and teaching materials. Some of the documents relate to Zall's collaborations with Bertram Ross in the 1990s and La Bonne Dame.

Finally, the collection contains correspondence and notes. The correspondence is mostly incoming and concerns Zall's performances in the 1990s and 2000s.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by: Printed Matter; Professional Meterials; Photographs; Correspondence and Notes; and Audio and Video Recordings.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Rona Affoumado, 2019.

Processing information

Processed by Nathan Evans in 2020.

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

Access restrictions

Inquiries regarding audio and moving image materials in the collection may be directed to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (dance@nypl.org). Audio and moving image materials will be subject to preservation assessment and migration prior to access.