Rudy Perez archive, 1965-2020

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Summary

Creators:
Perez, Rudy
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.
Extent:
60 Linear Feet 62 boxes and 1 map case drawer
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Item/Box/Folder number], Rudy Perez archive, Collection no. 0309, Music Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Rudy Perez, March 26, 2002.
Processing information:

The USC Libraries Special Collections unit transferred custody of the Rudy Perez archive to the USC Libraries Music Library on January 12, 2022. Most of the collection's box labels still list Special Collections as the holding repository.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access. Consult finding aid for additional information.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Music Library at music@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Music Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Item/Box/Folder number], Rudy Perez archive, Collection no. 0309, Music Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
Doheny Memorial Library, Room G-24
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1822, US
Contact:
(213) 740-0183
ajustice@usc.edu
Website