OVERVIEW

The goal of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company Legacy Initiative is to preserve Lar Lubovitch’s dances for posterity. Currently (January 2006) the initiative comprises three programs: LARCAT, the Lubovitch Archival Storage Facility and Reconstructing Lar.

LARCAT

LARCAT is made up of three closely related subprojects: the LARCAT Dance Recording Catalog System, the LARCAT Digitalization Project and the LARCAT Procedure Manual. The combined cataloging system, digitalization process and procedure manual will guide dance companies and individual artists in creating a low-cost, manageable and effective storage system for dance recordings.

The goal of the LARCAT Dance Recording Catalog System project is to create a data entry template, specifically designed for the needs of dance companies and individual artists, to guide them in cataloging their collections of dance recordings. The data template will exist in two forms: (1) as an unpopulated electronic database file and (2) as a paper template (a verbal description and illustration) for those who use a database system other than that for which the catalog was designed. This data template, along with accompanying instructions, could guide a minimally trained operator in creating a catalog that can capture the information most useful to the company and future users (libraries, researchers and others in the dance field).

The first goal of the LARCAT Digitalization Project is to find a digitalization method that is both affordable and which meets archival standards. The second goal is to digitalize the entire Lubovitch video library of approximately 600 unique recordings.

The LARCAT Procedure Manual will disseminate the methods and knowledge developed by the Lubovitch company as it relates to cataloging, storing and digitalizing recordings and serve as a guide to using the templates. The manual will enable a non-specialized worker to make informed archiving decisions, thereby addressing a common challenge — it is rarely affordable to hire experienced archivists to manage video collections. This project also includes writing articles for publication about our work on LARCAT.

Lubovitch Archival Storage Facility

The Lubovitch Archival Storage Facility project is concerned with creating physical space for storing materials related to dances. At the most modest end of the spectrum, this means building protected shelving until all recordings are digitalized. On the more ambitious end, it means creating an archival storage warehouse for all matter related to Lar Lubovitch’s dances: costumes, sets, lights, programs, posters, etc. This project intersects with the Lubovitch company’s Facilities Initiative, focused on the construction of a new, environmentally responsible company home.

Reconstructing Lar

Reconstructing Lar is that part of our Legacy Initiative concerned with recreating dances of Lar Lubovitch that do not exist in recorded form, or where recordings are unplayable. The process of recreating these dances, some of which are over 30 years old may include one or more of the following: (a) bringing some of Lar’s original dancers back to the studio to help Lar reconstruct the works, (b) rehearsing current company dancers so they can perform the works, (c) rebuilding costumes, redesigning lighting, reacquiring music, and (d) performing and making recordings of the dances for posterity.