Ruth Hatfield was a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. In 1936, Ruth married Don Hatfield and they moved to Minneapolis, MN. One year later Ruth and Gertrude Lippencott formed the Modern Dance Center in Minneapolis. Around that same time, Don Hatfield took up dance photography and began photographing Ruth's dance activities. She founded The Dance Trio with Margorie Parkin and Nik Krevitsky and taught and choreographed for the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago YWCA and the Chicago Dance Council Dance Festival. In 1942, Ruth helped establish the San Francisco Dance League. After the birth of her three daughters, she began teaching children's dance classes at Live Oak Recreation Center in Berkeley and started the Teen Dance Workshop. In 1962 she began teaching dance at Holy Names College. This collection consists of Ruth Hatfield's papers regarding her career as a modern dancer, choreographer and dance educator from about 1937 until the mid 1980's . Included are lesson plans and notes on classes, notes on choreography, notes for alignment lectures and clinics, and additional resources on art and dance that she found useful. There are also photographs in the collection.

Ruth Hatfield was a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. She was born Ruth Hopkins Sanders in Modesto, California in 1914 and spent most of her life in California. She began ballet studies as a child and studied modern dance at U.C. Berkeley beginning in 1931. In 1936, Ruth married Don Hatfield and they moved to Minneapolis, MN. One year later Ruth and Gertrude Lippencott formed the Modern Dance Center in Minneapolis. Around that same time, Don Hatfield took up dance photography and began photographing Ruth's dance activities. In 1940, the Hatfields moved to Chicago, where Ruth founded The Dance Trio with Margorie Parkin and Nik Krevitsky. Her other activities included teaching and choreographing for the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago YWCA and the Chicago Dance Council Dance Festival. In 1942 the Hatfields returned to San Francisco, where Ruth helped establish the San Francisco Dance League. After the birth of her three daughters, she began teaching children's dance classes at Live Oak Recreation Center in Berkeley. Soon thereafter, she started the Teen Dance Workshop. In 1962 she began teaching dance at Holy Names College, where she eventually established a strong dance program and remained until her retirement in 1977. In addition to teaching dance, Ruth studied Ideokinesis with Andre Bernard and began teaching alignment clinics in 1974. She continued to be involved in dance organizations such as the Isadora Duncan Awards and was a site visitor for the CAC arts grants.

8 Boxes. 7.5 linear feet.

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.