Richard Jones Papers, ca.1970-19912 boxes (1 linear feet).
Over the course of his esteemed dance career, Richard Jones performed with Eleo Pomare Company, the Miguel Godreau Dance Company, and the Xochipillian Dance Group. Jones was appointed to the staff of the University of Massachusetts on September 1, 1973, and remained with the department until his death in 1991. While at the University, Jones was the founding artistic director of the Amdans Theater, and was the artistic director of the University Dancers from 1979 to 1991.
The Jones Papers are a collection of photographs and reviews of Jones’s choreography during the 1970s and 1980s. A copy of Jones’s original essay, “Costuming for Three Styles of Dance,” (circa 1975) appears in the collection, as do photographs, playbills, posters, Amdans Theatre and University Dancers reviews. The Papers also contain letters to Jones from the Boston Ballet and the American College Dance Festival, as well as reviews of Jones’s choreography for professional companies outside the University.
I first saw Richard Jones dance in the fall; of 1976 and was very impressed by his performance and his artistic choreography. I set out to learn about dance, and later began his student in performing arts administration; Was wa the Company Manager for two years (1978-1980), I believe and organized their Winter Tours of Cape Cod;
Dance was Richard’s life and he gave everything he had to his work. He was also a talent artist and had a love of music and theater.
I changed my major to Performaing Arts Administration because the grop of people that surrounded Richard and Adrea Watkins and later Diana Hart were inspired and devoted. THe number of Smith, Amherst, Mount Holyoke and Hampshire students that came to Umass to study Dance was huge.
Roichard turned me on to Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff, Ellington, Cuck Managione and others.
We attended many performances together at the Fine Art Center and during these years dance was big! I later when on to become to assistant manager at the Harvard Summer School of Dance where I studies Dance History with Iris Fanger.
NOW, I AM A SOCIOLOGIST AND SOCIAL JSUTICE ACTIVIST, AND AM ALSO A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST. I GOT MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO A REAL ARTISTYS THROUGH RICHARD JONES.
WHAT A GREAT MAN! HE IS MISSED!
December 9th, 2011 at 11:21 am