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Perez (Rudy) archive
0309
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Music Library
Title: Rudy Perez archive
Creator:
Perez, Rudy
Identifier/Call Number: 0309
Physical Description:
60 Linear Feet
62 boxes and 1 map case drawer
Date (inclusive): 1965-2020
Abstract: The Rudy Perez archive consists of the papers, clippings, programs, books, videos, costumes and photographs from the work
of modern dance choreographer Rudy Perez (1929- ), currently based in Los Angeles.
Language of Material:
English
.
Rudy Perez was born in Spanish Harlem and attended New York's High School of Music and Arts, where he studied piano and voice.
After graduating, he studied dance under Martha Graham, Mary Anthony, and Merce Cunningham, and was a frequent performer at
the Judson Dance Theatre. Perez founded the Rudy Perez Dance Theatre in 1967. From 1968-1978 Perez held the position of
artist-in-residence at Marymount Manhattan College and trained as a dance therapist. During this period, his works started
to take on a larger scale and he began using the term "performance art" to describe them. His company toured throughout the
United States, Germany, and Canada.
In 1978, Perez took a position as a substitute teacher on the faculty of UCLA's Dance Department and in 1979 he moved permanently
to the West Coast. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards including National
Endowment for the Arts Choreography Fellowships, the prestigious Irvine Fellowship in Dance, the Pasadena Arts Commission
Grant, and Lester Horton Awards for Performance (1992) and Teaching (1997). The Los Angeles Music Center/Bilingual Foundation
honored him in 1992 with the !Viva Los Artistas! Performing Arts Award for distinguished Latino artists. Perez was also on
the dance faculty at Los Angeles High School for the Arts for ten years (1992-2002) and continues to teach classes at the
West Side Academy of Dance in Santa Monica.
This collection documents the long career of Rudy Perez and includes correspondence, ephemera, programs, photographs, costumes,
props, film and audio recordings and awards. Please see scope and content notes for indvidiual series for more information.
Advance notice required for access. Consult finding aid for additional information.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Music Library at music@usc.edu.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Music Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Identification of item], [Item/Box/Folder number], Rudy Perez archive, Collection no. 0309, Music Library, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Gift of Rudy Perez, March 26, 2002.
Lewitzky Dance Company records, Collection no. 0203, Music Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
The USC Libraries Special Collections unit transferred custody of the Rudy Perez archive to the USC Libraries Music Library
on January 12, 2022. Most of the collection's box labels still list Special Collections as the holding repository.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Choreographers -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Choreography -- Archival resources
Dance -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Dance -- New York (State) -- New York -- Archival resources
Modern dance -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Audiocassettes
Costumes (character dress)
DVDs
Photographs
CD-ROMs
Videotapes
Perez, Rudy -- Archives
Quijada, Victor -- Archives