Archiving Performance in an Institutional Context: Perspectives from the Mark Morris Dance Group

Dance is an ephemeral art form that does not archive easily. However, if we consider the nearly 40-year history of the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG), and even longer career of its illustrious choreographer Mark Morris, the ability to preserve, recall and re-stage dance becomes a challenge of institutional and cultural importance. In this webinar Mark Morris Dance Group archivists, Stephanie Neel and Regina Carra will share insights about their ongoing project to set up a new archive and digital database for MMDG, focusing specifically on the tools, strategies, and collaborations that have allowed them to provide enhanced access to the company’s history. Attendees will learn about the challenges of capturing and cataloging performance, what it is like to work for an active dance company, and approaches for engaging artists and staff in the archival process. This recording is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Related Event: National Digital Stewardship Residency for Art