The Gary Palmer Papers contain paper and video documentation of Men Dancing as well as Gary Palmer Dance Company (GPDC)/San Jose Dance Theatre (SJDT). Gary Palmer (born 1951) is a dancer/choreographer who was active in the San Francisco Bay from the early 1970s to 2000. He founded his own troupe, Gary Palmer Dance Company (GPDC) in 1977. In 1982, Palmer created Men Dancing, a popular San Francisco Bay Area dance series that featured only male dancers and choreographers in order to "give male dance artists a creative space outside of traditional roles (as partners to ballerinas) or archetypes (heroes or villains)." In 1997, Palmer became the executive director for the SJDT, with which he merged his existing company. The papers include programs, pre-performance press and subsequent reviews, flyers, promotional collateral, and audiovisual materials. The collection is arranged in the following series: I. Personal; II: Gary Palmer Dance Company/San Jose Dance Theatre; III: Men Dancing; IV: Audiovisual; V: Collected Items.

Gary Palmer (born 1951) is a dancer/choreographer who was active in the San Francisco Bay Area from the 1970s to 2000. He began his career working with groups such as the Lucas Hoving Performance Group and the Christopher Beck Dance Theatre. He founded his own troupe, Gary Palmer Dance Company (GPDC) in 1977, with its home base at Centerspace, an alternate venue within Project Artaud, one of San Francisco's leading artist communities. The company moved to San Jose, California in 1991 and performed in various South Bay venues, including the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Palmer worked with South American dancers, after having been invited to perform at festivals and with companies in Peru and Chile. He brought South American companies and individual dancers to the United States to showcase their work as well as to perform with his company. In 1982, Palmer produced Men Dancing, a popular San Francisco Bay Area dance series that featured only male dancers and choreographers in order to "give male dance artists a creative space outside of traditional roles and archetypes." The series included works by Remy Charlip, Jose Limon, Lucas Hoving, Robert Moses and dozens of others. Men Dancing performances soon became an annual tradition, continuing to 1998. In 1997, Palmer became the executive director for the San Jose Dance Theatre (SJDT), with which he merged his existing company. He resigned in 1999. In 1999, Palmer was granted a lecturing award by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars under the 2000-2001 Fulbright program with Peru. Palmer now lives in Washington, D.C.

2 Linear Feet. Number of Containers: 2 Records Cartons.

Reproduction of these materials can occur only if the copying falls within the provisions of the doctrine of fair use. Copyright varies by item.

Entire Collection is open for research.