Joan Woodbury photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: P1531

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Joan Woodbury photograph collection consists of 1 box containing 415 black-and-white photographs, contact sheets, negatives, and color photographs and slides. The images depict portraits of Woodbury and images of dancers and students practicing and performing. The collection dates from the 1950s to 1990s.

Dates

1950-1990

Creator

Woodbury, Joan J., 1927- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Joan Woodbury photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Joan Woodbury was born on September 21, 1927 in Cedar City, Utah. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin and became the first Fulbright Scholar in dance when she studied with Mary Wigman in Berlin, Germany in 1945. A retired professor of modern dance at the University of Utah where she taught for 47 years, Woodbury choreographed more than 100 works throughout her career, collaborated in the creation of 16 dance videos, and has been commissioned to choreograph by the Conservatoire National in Portugal, Outlet Dance Company in Australia, Desert Dance in Arizona, the University of Hawaii and Juillard School of Music plus many others. She has taught dance workshops and master classes throughout the United States as well as Portugal, France, Yugoslavia, China, Canada, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, Singapore and Italy. She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and has been honored by organizations across the world, including the prestigious French dictionary of dance, Dictionnaire de la Danse.

In 1964, Joan Woodbury founded Salt Lake City's Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company with fellow dancer and University of Utah professor Shirlie Ririe. The company has toured the world. Dedicated to educating children about the dance world, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company offers not only formal and informal performances but also lectures, demonstrations, workshops and classes for all age groups in dance for actors, stage production and theater lighting. Joan Woodbury and Shirlie Ririe handed the artistic direction of the company over to Charlotte Boye-Christensen in 2008.

Extent

415 Items (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Joan Woodbury (1927-) was a dancer, choreographer, and professor of dance at the University of Utah who co-founded the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in 1964. This collection contains portraits of Woodbury and photographs of students, practices, and dance performances dating from 1950 to 1990.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Joan Woodbury in 2008.

Related Materials

See also the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company records (ACCN 0709) and the Shirley Ririe papers (ACCN 2320) and photographs (P1479).

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Separated Materials

See also the Joan Woodbury papers (ACCN 2384) in the Manuscripts Division and the Joan Woodbury dance audiovisual collection in the Audiovisual Division of Special Collections.