First Chamber Dance Company records, 1961-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
First Chamber Dance Company
Title
First Chamber Dance Company records
Dates
1961-1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
12 cubic feet plus 4 oversize packages (12 boxes)
Collection Number
3694 (Accession No. 3694-001)
Summary
Administrative records of a dance company established in New York in 1961
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Dance company established in New York, 1961, as First Chamber Dance Quartet. In 1969 the Quartet added more dancers and expanded into First Chamber Dance Company, under the direction of original Quartet member Charles Bennett. Until the summer of 1974, the Company was based in New York but was spending increasing time in the Northwest, especially at the Summer Dance Laboratory (at Fort Worden near Port Townsend) which Charles Bennett developed about 1972. In July 1974, the First Chamber Dance Company formally relocated in Seattle and created the Performing Dance foundation to act as the parent Corporation of the Company and of its school, the Professional Dance Center. Apprentices from this training program formed the Chamber Dance Junior Company, considered by many to be Charles Bennett's finest accomplishment. The First Chamber Dance Company experienced increasing financial problems which ultimately caused it to disband at the end of 1979.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Historical features, correspondence, financial records, programs, photos, clippings, and other materials relating to the company documenting its operations, including performances, summer workshops, Professional Dance Center, which trained young dancers, and a junior company.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Charles Bennett, 8/12/1985.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 Historical Features
1 Organizational Features
1 Correspondence
1-2 Financial Records
2 Contracts
2 Brochures
2-3 Programs
3 Publicity
3 Press Releases
3 Dancers' Biographies
4 Itineraries
4 Grants and Grant Proposals including correspondence
5 Fundraising
5 Project and Planning Files
5 Address File
5 Unsorted files
approximately 1 foot of unsorted folders; includes material from many record series
6-7 Photographs
15 Oversized Photographs
13 Oversized Posters
7-9 Clippings
14 Scrapbook of Clippings
9, 16 Audio Tapes
9, 16 Ephemera
10 "Nutcracker"
10 "Salute to Cole Porter"
10 "Mercer's Girls"
10 Opera House 1979 June 02
10-11 Tours including correspondence
11 First Chamber Dance Quartet (Predecessor Organization)
11-12 Performing Dance Foundation
12 First Chamber Dance Company, Professional Dance Center
12 First Chamber Dance Company, Chamber Dance Junior Company
12 First Chamber Dance Company, Summer Dance Laboratory
12 Dance Alliance of the Northwest States (DANS)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • First Chamber Dance Company--Archives

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Bennett, Charles (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Dance Alliance of the Northwest States (creator)
    • Performing Dance Foundation (creator)