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Iris de Luce Papers
976.5
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Title: Iris de Luce Papers
Dates: 1926-1979
Collection Number: 976.5
Creator/Collector:
de Luce, Iris
Extent: 2 Boxes. 1 linear foot.
Repository:
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
San Francisco, California 94124
Abstract: Iris de Luce, born in 1903 was a dancer and choreographer in San Francisco with companies such as Albertina Raasch’s ballet
company, the San Francisco Ballet, and the San Francisco Opera’s Ballet, as well as in Paris at the Opera Ballet in Deauville.
She taught extensively at the Muriel Stuart Ballet Studios, the San Francisco Opera Ballet School, and Dominican College.
In 1946 she directed at her own studio, the Iris de Luce Ballet Studio. This collection contains clippings, programs, and
correspondence from her affiliation with the San Francisco Opera Ballet from the 1930s to the 1970s, as well as examples of
de Luce’s artwork in the form of ballet sketches and costume designs.
Language of Material: English
Entire Collection is open for research.
Reproduction of these materials can occur only if the copying falls within the provisions of the doctrine of fair use. Copyright
varies by item.
[Identification of item]. Iris de Luce Papers. Collection Number: 976.5. Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts
Library
These papers were sent over a number of years by Iris de Luce to Russell Hartley while he was director of the Archives for
the Performing Arts.
Biography/Administrative History
Iris de Luce, born in 1903 was a dancer and choreographer in San Francisco. She grew up learning dance from Ruth Griffith
and as a student at the Anita Peters Wright School, the Hirsch-Arnold Ballet School, and the Muriel Stuart Ballet Studios
in San Francisco and Hollywood where she took over the school in 1928 when Muriel Stuart left to dance in the Chicago Civic
Opera Ballet. In 1930, she studied drama with Hedwiga Reicher and Cameron Prudhomme and later appeared in motion pictures
with Albertina Raasch’s ballet company. She continued training in Paris with Egorova and Volinine, where she was then chosen
by M. Nicola Guerra to perform at the Opera Ballet in Deauville. On her return to San Francisco, she danced with the San Francisco
Ballet under the direction of Adolph Bloom. She also performed at the San Francisco Opera’s Ballet in the role of Zobeide
in the “Scheherazade.” De Luce also taught ballet at the San Francisco Opera Ballet School and Dominican College from 1937-1943.
After her marriage to Frederick Waiss, she directed the Iris de Luce Ballet Studio in Sausalito from 1946-1956 where she taught
notables such as Francia Russell, Fiona Fuerstner, Carol Conrad, and Mollie Merrill.
Scope and Content of Collection
These papers document the career of concert dancer and choreographer Iris de Luce. They include clippings, programs, and correspondence
dating from her period of affiliation with the San Francisco Opera Ballet as a teacher and performer. In addition, the papers
encompass examples of de Luce's artwork in the form of ballet sketches and costume designs. Very little information is available
in these papers on de Luce's teaching activities in Sausalito or on her studies in Paris with Egorova and Volinine. They focus
primarily upon her performances in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ballet
Choreography
Opera
Bloom, Adolph
Conrad, Carol
Fuerstner, Fiona
Merrill, Mollie
Russell, Francia
Ruth, Griffith
Waiss, Frederick
San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Opera