Online Histories of Dance in Cambridge

On December 31, 2015, Penumbra:RME launched online historical timelines for the three major dance centers of Cambridge, Masssachusetts: the Dance Complex (DC), Green Street Studios (GSS), and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre (JMBT). The timelines were funded by a 2015 Cambridge Arts Project Grant from the Cambridge Arts Council and Massachusetts Cultural Council. Each timeline includes major events, figures, and images from each location’s archival collections. The release of the timeline coincide with major anniversaries for each center (25th for the DC and GSS, 30th for JMBT). As part of the grant, each location was assigned a professional archivist to inventory their collections and received a mounted poster version of their timeline for sharing with on-site visitors. To view the timelines, go to http://www.dancenarratives.org/boston/organizations.

The timelines were developed as part of a larger ongoing project called the Hub Dance Narratives Project of Boston (HDNP:Boston). It is Intended to be a collective memory using oral history interviews that highlight the achievements and relationships between local dance artists from the 1970s onwards. While reviewing the initial batch of interviews, it was quickly realized that the major dance centers of Cambridge play a vital role in Boston’s contemporary dance history. This led to the proposal of the timeline projects to the various directors of each center: Peter DiMuro, Lorraine Chapman (2015-2016) and David Orr, and Jose Mateo. Without their collaboration and support, it would have been impossible for Penumbra:RME to compile these crucial narratives.

Penumbra:RME would also like to thank Kara Fili and Scott Fraser for their extensive support and involvement, Elizabeth McGorty, Adrienne Naylor, and Nicole Topich for leading the archival teams, and Catherine Hammer, Samantha Quinon, Samantha Govoni, and Wisty Andres for volunteering their time. The HDNP:Boston is partially funded by a 2014 Richard W. Hale Award from the New England Archivists.

For more information about Penumbra:RME, please visit http://penumbrarme.org/about