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Finding Aid of the Rudy Perez archive
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0309
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Title: Rudy Perez Archive
Collection number: 0309
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
42.0 linear ft.
39 boxes, 1 map case drawer
Date (inclusive): 1965-2009
Abstract: The Rudy Perez archive consists of the papers, clippings, programs, books, videos, costumes and photographs from the work
of modern dance choreographer Rudy Perez (1929- ), currently based in Los Angeles.
creator:
Perez, Rudy
creator:
Quijada, Victor
Advance notice required for access. Consult finding aid for additional information.
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers
on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers
when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
[Identification of item], [Item/Box/Folder number], Rudy Perez archive, Collection no. 0309, Special Collections, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
This collection documents the long career of Rudy Perez and includes correspondence, ephemera, programs, photographs, costumes,
props, film and audio recordings and awards. Please see scope and content notes for indvidiual series for more information.
Rudy Perez was born in Spanish Harlem and attended New York's High School of Music and Arts, where he studied piano and voice.
After graduating, he studied dance under Martha Graham, Mary Anthony, and Merce Cunningham, and was a frequent performer at
the Judson Dance Theatre. Perez founded the Rudy Perez Dance Theatre in 1967. From 1968-1978 Perez held the position of artist-in-residence
at Marymount Manhattan College and trained as a dance therapist. During this period, his works started to take on a larger
scale and he began using the term "performance art" to describe them. His company toured throughout the United States, Germany,
and Canada.
In 1978, Perez took a position as a substitute teacher on the faculty of UCLA's Dance Department and in 1979 he moved permanently
to the West Coast. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards including National
Endowment for the Arts Choreography Fellowships, the prestigious Irvine Fellowship in Dance, the Pasadena Arts Commission
Grant, and Lester Horton Awards for Performance (1992) and Teaching (1997). The Los Angeles Music Center/Bilingual Foundation
honored him in 1992 with the !Viva Los Artistas! Performing Arts Award for distinguished Latino artists. Perez was also on
the dance faculty at Los Angeles High School for the Arts for ten years (1992-2002) and continues to teach classes at the
West Side Academy of Dance in Santa Monica.
Lewitzky Dance Company records, Collection no. 0203, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Perez, Rudy -- Archives
Audiocassettes
CD-ROMs
Choreographers--Archival resources
Choreography--Archival resources
Costumes (character dress)
Dance--New York (State)--New York--Archival resources
DVDs
Modern dance--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Photographs
Videotapes