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Charles Girvin Papers
992.039  
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Description
Charles Girvin, born in 1935, was a ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre at the Phoenix Theatre, and with the School of American Ballet at Carnegie Hall. He studied at the School of American Ballet and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo School under various renowned ballet dancers. In 1973, he began teaching for the Sacramento Ballet Company, and in 1975, he began working as a self-employed teacher for companies such as Menlo Park Academy of Dance; Dancer's Theatre, Berkeley; East Bay Ballet Theatre, Albany; Academy of Ballet, San Francisco; U.C. Berkeley Dance Department; Shawl/Anderson Dance Center; Classical Ballet Center of Berkeley; and Dimensions Dance Theatre, Oakland. This collection documents his career, primarily focusing on his role as a ballet instructor. Materials included are resumes, photos, awards, sketches, programs, flyers, correspondence, scrapbooks, news clippings, and notebooks.
Background
Charles Frederick Girvin was a ballet dancer born in 1935. He received instruction from Dean Crockett, a former pupil of Michael Fokine, Michael Mordkin, and Adolph Bolm. Girvin also studied at the School of American Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine. Among his instructors numbered Anatole Oboukhoff and Pierre Vladimiroff, graduates of the Imperial Ballet School; Antonina Tumkovsky, former dancer with the Kirov and Bolshoi Theatres; Felia Doubvrovska, a soloist with the Maryinsky Theatre and Diaghilev Ballet; Muriel Stuart, who studied with Pavlova and Cecchetti; and Yurek Lazowski, a specialist in character dancing. Girvin made his professional debut with the New York City Ballet, partnering Maria Tallchief in The Firebird. Other appearances included performances with the American Ballet Theatre at the Phoenix Theatre and with the School of American Ballet at Carnegie Hall. Girvin continued his studies with classes with Maria Swoboda, Edward Caton, Mia Slavenska, Frederick Franklin, and Leon Danielian at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo School and with Robert Joffrey, Anatole Vilzak, and Valentina Pereyslavec at the American Ballet Theatre School. In 1957, Girvin retired from professional ballet dancing and joined the U.S. Coast Guard. Between 1957 and 1961, when he received an honorable discharge, Girvin served as a Second Class Petty Officer in the Naval Engineering Department. Girvin moved back to California in 1961 and began working for O.N.C. Motor Freight Systems. Between 1963 and 1973, Girvin worked as a Claims Investigator for Pacific Intermountain Express Co. Girvin returned to dance in 1973, when he began teaching for the Sacramento Ballet Company. Between 1975 and 1980, Girvin worked as a self-employed dance teacher in cooperation with the following Bay Area companies: 1975-76 Menlo Park Academy of Dance; 1976 Dancer's Theatre, Berkeley; 1977-78 East Bay Ballet Theatre, Albany; 1977-78 Academy of Ballet, San Francisco; 1978 U.C. Berkeley Dance Department; 1978-79 Shawl/Anderson Dance Center; 1979-80 Classical Ballet Center of Berkeley; 1978-80 Dimensions Dance Theatre, Oakland. In 1980, Girvin returned to working as a Claims Manager for System 99 Trucking Co. in Oakland.
Extent
2 Boxes. 0.75 linear feet.
Restrictions
Reproduction of these materials can occur only if the copying falls within the provisions of the doctrine of fair use. Copyright varies by item.
Availability
Entire Collection is open for research.