Summary
Abstract
Orchesis was founded in 1935 as the dance performance company of the Penn State Women's Recreation Association; Patricia Heigel-Tanner was a professor of dance; she co-founded the Contemporary Dance Company in 1973 and was its co-director. This collection contains audio and video recordings of concerts by Orchesis and the Contemporary Dance Company, with related photographs, programs, and scrapbooks of music scores for Orchesis programs.
Dates
- Creation: 1949-2002
Extent
4 Linear Feet
Background
Biographical / Historical
Patricia Heigel-Tanner, Associate Professor of Dance and Movement at Penn State attended the American Ballet Theatre School, Connecticut College School of Dance, and the Perry-Mansfield School. She joined the Penn State faculty, and served as the artistic director of Orchesis, a student-based dance company originally part of the Penn State Women's Recreation Association. Heigel-Tanner also co-founded and co-directed the a community-based troupe, Contemporary Dance Company, in 1973 with its first performance in January 1974. She choreographed numerous musicals for the Pennsylvania Center Stage, and several original dances including The War Prayer. Active in the community, she chaired dance curriculum for the Governor's School for the Arts, was president of the Central Pennsylvania Arts Council, and developed dance programs for older adults. She died in 2009.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of Orchesis scrapbooks (1949-1987), manuscript sheet music for dance concerts, a box of photographs of dancers in costume, and programs for both Orchesis and the Contemporary Dance Company and a box of 8 mm films. Counted items include 1 oversize collage for publicity, 215 audio tapes, and 248 video recordings (including 8 films).
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Partial
This collection is minimally processed and may contain sensitive materials. For information about accessing this collection, please contact the Special Collections Research Services Unit at spcollections@psu.edu.
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Patricia Heigel-Tanner collection of Orchesis and the Contemporary Dance Company records, 06860, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Patricia Heigel-Tanner collection of Orchesis and the Contemporary Dance Company records
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Author
- Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021: Lexy deGraffenreid merged the two abstracts, updated standardized notes to current standard, and updated the finding aid status, December 2021