Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection
999.076
Finding aid prepared by Marianne Carden and Supriya Wronkiewicz
Processing, cataloging, digitization, and access supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art
Works.
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
August 15, 2017
Title: Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection,
Identifier/Call Number: 999.076
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
9.42 Linear feet
. This collection contains 6 document cases, 1 records carton, and 3 oversized boxes.
Date: circa 1980-1991
Abstract: Katherine Kahrs is a teacher, painter, and photographer. During the 1980s, Kahrs served as an official photographer for the
Pacific Dance Center and the Palo Alto Dance Center, thus compiling an important visual record of their contributions to dance
education. She also photographed performances by such groups as the Margaret Wingrove Dancers, the Sugano School of Ballet,
the New Dance Company, Dancers' Repertory Theatre, the Golden Gate Ballet, Footwork, the San Francisco Jazz Dance Company,
and the San Francisco Moving Company. Many individuals affiliated with these dance groups are also featured in the collection.
The collection includes slides, negatives, photographic prints as well as programs and related promotional materials featuring
Kahr's photography.
Language: All Materials are in English.
Creator:
Kahrs, Katherine
Copyright Information
Katherine Kahrs has retained copyright on all of the materials. Ms. Kahrs requests notification of reproduction of an image
and all images should be cited appropriated as follows: "Image courtesy of the Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection, Museum
of Performance + Design, San Francisco". Ms. Kahrs does not expect payment for the use of an image, nor does permission need
to be granted.
Restrictions
This collection is open to researchers.
Processing history
Initial accession processed by Marianne Carden on September 7, 1994. Additional processing and arrangement by Kirsten Tanaka
and Supriya Wronkiewicz.
Preferred Citation
All photographs must be cited "Image courtesy of the Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection, Museum of Performance + Design,
San Francisco". For all other materials, please use: [folder title], Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection, Museum of Performance
+ Design.
Provenance
This collection was donated to the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum by Katherine Kahrs on August 22, 1990.
Biographical Note
Katherine Kahrs graduated from University of California, Berkeley with an M.A. in Studio Art in 1951. After graduation, she
exhibited paintings in group shows in the various local museums and other venues. She then lived in Italy and Holland and
traveled through Europe for four years, seeing the great dancing of Sadler Wells, Bejart Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Netherlands
Dance Theatre, and other companies.
After returning to the Bay Area, she taught drawing, composition, and painting from 1962 to 1978. She taught art at various
adult education classes, the Pacific Art League, and U.C. Santa Cruz. She was an exhibiting painter as well as a teacher.
Occasionally, Kahrs won awards for her works on exhibit.
She studied photography at Foothill College. Shortly after Richard Gibson opened the Pacific Dance Center (now Western Ballet)
in Palo Alto in 1976, she took dancing and began photographing dancers in and out of the studio around 1980. In 1982, she
began working for Tance Johnson, the director of Dance Action, and continued this affiliation until 1992. She was also a free
lance photographer in San Francisco from 1982 until 1992, photographing various small dance companies such as Lines, Golden
Gate Ballet, Conzertanz, Cheryl Chaddick, Baroque Music and Dance, Mazynski Dance Company, and others. Her dance photographs
were exhibited at Footwork Studios, Keeble and Suchat Gallery in Palo Alto, and Dancer's Stage for Yahuda Moar. She was included
in Best Photography of 1987.
From 1982 until 1992, she was the featured dance photographer for Margaret Wingrove Dancers of San Jose. She also photographed
New Dance Company in San Jose for Cliff Keuter. She was published in the
San Jose Mercury, the
San Francisco Chronicle,
Metro, and various other publications.
In 1992, she retired from exclusively doing dance photography and now does various freelance photographic assignments, as
well as exhibition photography.
Scope and Contents
The Katherine Kahrs Photography Collection consists of negatives, proof sheets, prints, and print-based programs which document
the activities and performances of various dancers and dance companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Katherine Kahrs served
as an official photographer for the Pacific Dance Center and the Palo Alto Dance Center during the 1980s and thus compiled
an important visual record of their contributions to dance education. She also photographed performances by such groups as
the Margaret Wingrove Dancers, the Sugano School of Ballet, the New Dance Co., Dancers' Repertory Theatre, the Golden Gate
Ballet, Footwork, the San Francisco Jazz Dance Co., and the San Francisco Moving Co.
Many individuals affiliated with these dance groups are also featured in the collection. These include Richard Gibson, Yehuda
Maor, Tina Bernal, Janet Vertis, and Fran Spector. Students such as Molly Story, Ken Delmar, Sandy Perez, Toby Cohen, and
April Breunerman are represented through posed portraits and casual shots taken at rehearsals.
The majority of the collection is composed of negatives and proof sheets which were originally filed in binders. These have
been removed for preservation purposes, but their original groupings by ballet company have been retained. Files of 8 x 10
prints have also been preserved in their original arrangement by dance company and ballet or by individual. Other examples
of Katherine Kahrs' work can be found in the Dance Action Collection, which documents the career of Tance Johnson and the
dance company she founded.
The collection has been organized into the following series:
Individuals;
Dance Companies;
Margaret Wingrove Dancers;
Pacific Dance Center;
Palo Alto Dance Center;
Programs and Print-based Materials; and
Oversize Materials. The
Individuals series consists of negatives, proof sheets and prints of individual dancers and choreographers and is arranged alphabetically
by name of individual and thereunder by date. The
Dance Companies series includes negatives, proof sheets, and prints of various dance companies active in the Bay Area and is arranged alphabetically
by name of company and thereunder by date. The
Margaret Wingrove Dancers series consists of negatives, proof sheets, and prints documenting the company and is arranged in chronological order. The
Pacific Dance Center series contains negatives, proof sheets, and prints documenting the teaching and peformance activities of the company and
is arranged in chronological order. The
Palo Alto Dance Center series contains negatives, proof sheets, and prints of dress rehearsals and performances and is arranged chronologically.
The
Programs and Print-Based Materials series contains programs for various performances documented in the collection's photographic files and other non-photographic
materials, such as promotional materials and other print based documents and is arranged by format. The
Oversize Materials series contains mounted photographs and photo albums and is arranged by format and then by company if applicable.
Related Materials
Related collections include the
Dance Action Collection and
Dance Companies Files.
Series I: Individuals,
circa 1980s, undated
Scope and Contents note
Consists of negatives, proof sheets and prints of individual dancers and choreographers. Unless otherwise stated, folders
contain negatives and/or proof sheets. Arranged alphabetically by name of individual and thereunder by date.
Box 7, Folder 1
Albert, C. (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 2
Hannah, Alex (prints),
1986 October
Box 7, Folder 3
Beal, Tandy (prints),
undated
Box 1, Folder 3
Bernaseoni, Laurie,
1985 January 21
Box 1, Folders 4-7
Bernal, Tina,
1981, 1984, 1986
Box 7, Folder 4
Bernal, Tina (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 5
Bowman, Cecelia Marie (prints),
1983
Box 1, Folder 8
Breunerman, April,
1982 February 29
Box 7, Folder 6
Breunerman, April (prints),
1982 April 21
Box 1, Folder 11
Chaddick, Cheryl,
undated
Box 1, Folder 12
Cohen, Toby,
1981 December
Scope and Contents note
Performance of Richard Gibson's
One
Box 7, Folder 7
Cohen, Toby - Pacific Dance Center (prints),
1980
Box 7, Folder 8
Collins, Mimi (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 67
Delmar, Ken and Alex (prints),
undated
Box 1, Folder 14
Friedman, Leslie,
1983 February 17
Box 1, Folder 16
Gibson, Richard,
1985 March
Box 7, Folders 9-10
Gibson, Richard (prints),
1978-1981, undated
Box 1, Folder 15
Gibson, Richard and Sassoon, Janet,
1988 August 25
Box 7, Folder 11
Gibson, Richard and Sassoon, Janet (prints),
1988
Box 1, Folder 17
Hilton, Wendy,
1985 June 19
Box 7, Folder 12
Hilton, Wendy (prints),
1985 June 19
Box 1, Folder 18
Ibarra, Cathy,
1985 July 2
Box 1, Folder 19
Jenaea, Duncan,
1982 April 8
Box 1, Folder 20
Johnson, Doug,
1982 May 28
Box 1, Folder 21
Johnson, Doug and Story, Molly,
undated
Box 7, Folder 13
Johnson, Tance (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 14
King, Alonzo (prints),
undated
Box 1, Folder 23
Larkam, Elizabeth,
1981 April 11
Box 7, Folder 15
Lyn, Janaea Rose (prints),
1982 April
Box 1, Folder 25
McCarthy, Cathleen (Winter Dances),
undated
Box 7, Folder 68
McCarthy, Cathleen (prints),
1985 February
Box 1, Folder 26
Murphy, Megan,
1981 October
Box 7, Folder 16
Murphy, Megan (prints),
1981 October
Box 1, Folder 27
Palenga, Christine,
undated
Box 1, Folder 28
Perez, Sandy,
1983 March 13
Box 7, Folder 17
Perez, Sandy (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 18
Santos, Tina (prints),
1982
Box 1, Folder 29
Schommer, Leslie,
1981 February
Box 1, Folder 30
Selberman, Caroly
1984 November
Box 1, Folder 31
Spector, Fran,
1983 August 6
Box 7, Folder 19
Spector, Fran (prints),
undated
Box 1, Folders 32-33
Story, Molly,
1982 February, 1982 April
Box 7
Story, Molly (prints),
1981-1982
Box 1, Folder 34
Story, Molly (slides),
1982 May, June, July
Box 1, Folders 35-37
Vertis, Janet,
1982 March 20, 1982 May 15, undated
Box 7, Folder 21
Vertis, Janet (prints),
1985
Box 1, Folder 38
Washington, Andre and Apple, Eve,
1986 March 29
Scope and Contents note
The second dancer's name is unconfirmed.
Box 7, Folder 23
Washington, Andre and Apple, Eve (prints),
undated
Scope and Contents note
The second dancer's name is unconfirmed.
Box 7, Folder 22
Watson, Gwendolyn (prints),
1983-1984
Box 1, Folder 40
Wolner, Kirsten,
1985 January 21
Box 7, Folder 24
Wynn, Bobbie (prints),
undated
Box 1, Folder 42
Zaraspe, Hector,
1985 August 29
Series II: Dance Companies
circa 1980s, undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes negatives, proof sheets, and prints of various dance companies active in the Bay Area. Unless otherwise stated, folders
contain negatives and/or proof sheets. Arranged alphabetically by name of company and thereunder by date.
Box 2, Folder 1
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dancers,
1986 July 2
Box 2, Folders 2-3
Alice at the Palace - Dancers' Repertory Theatre,
1983 May-June
Box 7, Folder 25
Alice at the Palace - Dancers' Repertory Theatre (prints),
1983 May
Box 2, Folder 4
Baroque Music and Dance,
1985 June 29
Box 7, Folder 26
Baroque Dancers (prints),
undated
Box 2, Folder 5
Berkeley Ballet,
1986 October 25, 1987 January 15
Box 7, Folder 27
Berkeley Ballet (prints),
undated
Box 2, Folder 7
Chaksam-Pa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company,
1991
Box 7, Folder 28
Chaksam-Pa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 29
Dance Action (prints),
undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Dancers' Repertory Theatre - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
1982 December
Box 2, Folder 10
Dancers' Stage,
1983 February 13-14
Box 2, Folder 12
Duncan Performance Ensemble,
1982 June
Box 7, Folder 30
Earth Day (prints),
1990 April
Box 7, Folder 31
Eastern Dancer (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 32
Eiko and Koma (prints),
circa 1984, undated
Box 2, Folder 17
Electra Theatre Company,
undated
Box 7, Folder 33
Electra Theatre Company (prints),
Box 2, Folder 18
Eskimo Dancers,
1982 August
Box 7, Folder 34
Eskimo Dancers (prints),
1983
Box 2, Folder 19
Footwork,
1986 October 10
Box 2, Folder 20
Gemelen Sakar Jaya,
undated
Box 7, Folder 35
Gemelen Sakar Jaya (prints),
undated
Box 2, Folder 21
Golden Gate Ballet Center,
undated
Box 7, Folder 36
Golden Gate Ballet Center (prints),
undated
Box 2, Folder 22
Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Theatre,
1990 March
Box 7, Folder 37
Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Theatre (prints),
undated
Box 3, Folder 3
James Kimo Baird's Spirit of Polynesia,
1986 June 13
Box 7, Folder 38
Konzertanz (prints),
1989
Box 3, Folder 5
Lines Dance Company,
undated
Box 7, Folder 39
Lines Dance Company (prints),
undated
Box 3, Folder 6
McFarland Ballet Theatre,
undated
Box 7, Folder 40
McFarland Ballet Theatre (prints),
undated
Box 3, Folder 7
McFarland Ballet Theatre (slides),
undated
Box 3, Folder 8
Mezynski Dance Company,
undated
Box 7, Folder 41
Mezynski Dance Company (prints),
undated
Box 3, Folder 9
Moving and Storage Performance Company,
undated
Box 2, Folder 23-30
New Dance Company,
1983-1986, undated
Box 7, Folders 42-43
New Dance Company (prints),
1986
Box 7, Folder 44
Oakland Ballet (prints),
undated
Box 7, Folder 66
Palo Alto Ballet (prints),
1985 December
Box 7, Folder 64
Palo Alto Ballet (prints),
undated
Box 3, Folder 11
Peninsula Ballet,
undated
Box 3, Folder 12
San Francisco Jazz Dance Company,
1981 November 14
Box 3, Folder 13
San Francisco Moving Company,
1982 October 30
Box 3, Folder 14
Sugano School of Ballet,
1982 June 6
Box 7, Folder 45
Sugano School of Ballet (prints),
1982
Box 7, Folder 46
Unidentified photographic prints,
undated
Series III: Margaret Wingrove Dancers
1983, 1985-1992
Scope and Contents note
Consists of negatives, proof sheets, and prints documenting the Margaret Wingrove Dancers. Unless otherwise stated, folders
contain negatives and/or proof sheets. Arranged in chronological order.
Box 7, Folder 53
Dance Magazine article,
1985 September
Box 6, Folder 21
1986 October - 1987 January
Box 6, Folders 22-23
Unidentified dancers and individuals,
circa 1985-1987, undated
Box 7, Folders 47-49
Unidentified dancers and individuals (prints),
circa 1985-1987, undated
Series IV: Pacific Dance Center
Scope and Contents note
Consists of negatives, proof sheets, and prints documenting the teaching and peformance activities of the Pacific Dance Center.
Unless otherwise stated, folders contain negatives and proofs. Arranged in chronological order.
Box 7, Folder 58
Roboz, Agnes (?) (prints)
1980
Box 5, Folder 14
Gibson, Richard - class,
1981
Box 7, Folder 60
Rehearsals (prints),
1981
Box 5, Folder 16
Maor, Yehuda - class,
1981 April
Box 5, Folder 17
Gibson, Richard - class,
1981 April 5
Box 5, Folder 18
Keuter, Cliff - class,
1981 April 10
Box 5, Folder 20
Maor, Yehuda - class,
1981 November 2
Box 5, Folder 21
Maor, Yehuda - Ballet V class,
1981 November 2
Box 5, Folder 22
Maor, Yehuda - Ballet II-III class,
1981 November 2
Box 5, Folder 23
Maor, Yehuda - Modern class,
1981 November 4
Box 5, Folder 24
Gibson, Richard and Maor, Yehuda - class,
1981 November
Box 6, Folder 12
Gibson, Richard -
Variations on a Rococco Theme,
1981 December
Box 6, Folder 8
Moar, Yehuda -
Ballade duo
1981 December
Box 6, Folder 11
Maor, Yehuda -
Nightingales
1981 December
Box 5, Folder 25
Santos, Tina - pointe class,
1981 December
Box 6, Folder 3
Maor, Yehuda -
Vienna Ball rehearsal,
1982 January 30
Box 6, Folder 9
Murphy, Megan and Franchi, Joncarlo in
Ballade,
1982 February
Box 6, Folder 1
Dress rehearsal for Nightingales,
1982 February 2
Box 6, Folder 2
Dress rehearsal for
Variations on Handel,
1982 February 2
Box 6, Folders 4-5
Rehearsal,
1982 February 7
Box 5, Folder 32
Dress rehearsal for
Hills of Spring,
1982 February 12
Box 5, Folder 31
Dress rehearsal for
Ballade,
1982 February 12
Box 7, Folder 65
Prints
1982 February 12-14
Box 6, Folder 10
Hills of Spring performance,
1982 February 14
Box 5, Folder 26
Gibson, Richard - class,
1982 April 3
Box 5, Folder 27
Santos, Tina - class,
1982 April 3
Box 5, Folder 28
Wright, Rebecca - class,
1982 April 22
Box 5, Folder 29
Elliot, Christine class,
1982 August
Box 5, Folder 30
Maor, Yehuda - studio,
1982 September 24
Box 7, Folder 63
Maor, Yehuda - Ballet IV class,
undated
Box 6, Folder 13
Maor, Yehuda -
Vienna Ball,
undated
Series V: Palo Alto Dance Center,
1983-1986
Scope and Contents note
Contains negatives, proof sheets, and prints of dress rehearsals and performances given by the Palo Alto Dance Center. Unless
otherwise stated, folders contain negatives and proofs. Arranged chronologically.
Box 5, Folder 1
Palo Alto Dance Theatre Benefit,
1983 April 8
Box 5, Folder 4
Dress Rehearsal,
1984 July 15
Series VI: Programs and Print-based Materials
undated, 1980-1987
Scope and Contents note
Contains programs for various performances documented in the collection's photographic files and other non-photographic materials,
such as promotional materials and other print based documents. Arranged by format.
Box 3, Folder 17
Reproductions of Kahrs' work in articles and other printed materials
undated
Box 3, Folder 18
Correspondence and related documents,
1987, undated
Box 3, Folders 20-21
Promotional materials and flyers,
undated
Series VII: Oversize materials
circa 1980-1990
Scope and Contents note
Contains mounted photographs and photo albums. Arranged by format and then by company if applicable.
Box 8
Photo Album,
circa 1982
Scope and Contents note
Includes images from the following companies: Pacific Dance Center; Duncan Performance Ensemble; and Golden Gate Ballet Center.
Also included at the end are color photographs of dancer Molly Story.
Box 9
Scrapbook - various companies
circa 1980s
Box 9
Scrapbook - Margaret Wingrove Dance Company
circa 1985-1988
Box 9
Scrapbook - Margaret Wingrove Dance Company
circa 1987-1990
Box 9
Photo album - Pacific Dance Company,
undated
Boxes 10-11
Matted photographs of various individuals and companies,
undated
