About Dance heritage coalition
Dance Heritage Coalition: Preserving the Artistic Accomplishments of Dance
Dance is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way to express oneself through movement and rhythm, and it has played an important role in many cultures throughout history. The Dance Heritage Coalition (DHC) recognizes the significance of dance as an art form and aims to preserve its history for future generations.
Founded in 1992, DHC is a national alliance of institutions that hold significant collections of materials documenting the history of dance. Its mission is to preserve, make accessible, enhance, and augment these materials so that they can be used to document the artistic accomplishments in dance from the past, present, and future.
The preservation efforts undertaken by DHC are crucial because dance materials are often fragile and susceptible to damage over time. These materials include photographs, videos, costumes, set designs, music scores, personal papers of dancers/choreographers/teachers/critics/enthusiasts/fans etc., programs/brochures/posters/flyers/tickets etc., oral histories/interviews/transcripts/audio recordings/video recordings etc., correspondence/memos/reports/grants/proposals/etc., press clippings/articles/reviews/features/etc., books/journals/magazines/newspapers/etc.
By preserving these materials through digitization or other means such as conservation treatment or storage improvements - DHC ensures that they will be available for research purposes long into the future. This accessibility allows scholars/students/artists/dancers/choreographers/critics/enthusiasts/fans/etc. to study them more easily than ever before.
In addition to preservation efforts - DHC also works towards enhancing these collections by adding new items or improving existing ones with additional information such as metadata (descriptive information about each item). This process makes it easier for researchers/users/artists/dancers/choreographers/critics/enthusiasts/fans/etc. to find what they are looking for and to understand the context of each item.
DHC also aims to augment these collections by creating new materials that document the history of dance. This includes commissioning new works, sponsoring research projects, and collaborating with other organizations to create exhibitions or performances that showcase the art form.
One of DHC's most significant achievements is its creation of the Dance Heritage Video Archive (DHVA). The DHVA is a digital collection of over 1,000 videos documenting dance performances from around the world. These videos are available for free online and provide an invaluable resource for researchers/students/artists/dancers/choreographers/critics/enthusiasts/fans/etc. who want to study or learn about different styles of dance.
Another important initiative undertaken by DHC is its National Dance Preservation Survey (NDPS). The NDPS is a comprehensive survey that assesses the state of dance preservation in America. It provides valuable information about which institutions hold significant collections, what types of materials they have, and what preservation efforts they are undertaking.
DHC also offers a range of educational programs such as workshops/seminars/conferences/symposia/webinars etc., designed to educate people about the importance of preserving dance history and how it can be done effectively.
In conclusion - DHC plays a vital role in preserving, enhancing, and augmenting materials that document the artistic accomplishments in dance from past/present/future. Its efforts ensure that these materials will be available for research purposes long into the future - allowing scholars/students/artists/dancers/choreographers/critics/enthusiasts/fans/etc. access them more easily than ever before. With initiatives like DHVA & NDPS along with educational programs/workshops/seminars/conferences/symposia/webinars etc., DHC continues its mission towards preserving this beautiful art form for generations to come.