Paul Langland Papers
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Abstract
Paul Langland is a choreographer, dancer and educator. The Paul Langland Papers contain paper and electronic files related to Langland's projects, performances, teaching, and professional involvement with modern dance techniques, including Allan Wayne Work and Contact Improvisation, from the mid-1970s through 2015.
Biographical Note
Paul Langland is a choreographer, dancer and educator. Langland received his BFA in Sculpture and Performance from the California College of Arts and Crafts in 1973. While in California, Langland began his involvement with the Contact Improvisation dance technique, studying under its founder Steve Paxton.
After moving to New York City in the 1970s, Langland began working with choreographer and performer Meredith Monk, whose company he later joined. Langland remained a member of the Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble until 1985.
During his time in New York City, Langland also studied closely under dancer Allan Wayne. After Wayne's death in 1978, Langland began teaching his technique, under the name "Allan Wayne Work," and continued to develop his work.
Throughout his career, Langland has performed at various notable performance spaces and with various performance groups including The House, Danspace, Dance Theater Workshop, LaMama, The Kitchen, and Franklin Furnace, among others. Langland has also held a number of fellowships and residencies, leading to performances and workshops throughout North America, Europe, Korea, Venezuela and Cuba. He is currently a master teacher at New York University's Experimental Theater Wing.
Choreography Timeline
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged into 13 series as follows:
Series I: Files
Series II: Notebooks and Planners
Series III: Photographs
Series IV: Posters, Programs, and Flyers
Series V: Allan Wayne Material
Series VI: Video Recordings
Series VII: Sound Recordings
Series VIII: Vinyl Sound Recordings
Series IX: Data Storage
Series X: Objects
Series XI: 2015 Accretion
Series XII: 2016-2017 Accretions
Series XIII: 2018 Accretion
Material is arranged both chronologically and alphabetically in different series, in some cases to retain the original organization. The materials in Series XI: 2015 Accretion, Series XII. 2016-2017 Accretions, and Series XIII. 2018 Accretion have not been arranged by an archivist and are in the order in which they were received from the donor.
Scope and Contents
The Paul Langland Papers contain material created and collected by Paul Langland during the course of his career as a choreographer, dancer and educator. The collection documents in paper and electronic files his performance and teaching of contemporary dance techniques, including Allan Wayne Work (for which Langland is a main developer) and Contact Improvisation. There is also documentation of Langland's personal works, as well as his contributions to various dance ensembles, with a focus on those located in New York City.
Material includes choreography notes, journals, artist and project files, flyers, programs, posters, and records related to Langland's tenure as a professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Additionally, the collection includes photographs documenting Langland's projects, tours, and personal life. Also included in the collection are original video and film recordings of Langland's performances. Sound recordings may be unavailable until reformating occurs.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Paul Langland Papers; MSS 253; box number; folder number or item identifier; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection was originally donated in 2009, with additional donations in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015-2017, and 2018.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Access copies for some materials are available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Please contact fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Advance notice is required for the use of computer records. Original physical digital media is restricted. An access terminal for born-digital materials in the collection is available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Researchers may view an item's original container and/or carrier, but the physical carriers themselves are not available for use because of preservation concerns.
Appraisal
Two CD-Rs were removed from the collection, considered by a curator to be outside the collection policies of Special Collections:
Reefer Blues: Vintage Songs About Marijuana
Meredith Monk Piano Songs
About this Guide
Processing Information note
In October 2014, two boxes of duplicate or commercially released video material was de-accessioned. There are no longer boxes 40 and 41. At this time, Video Subseries A: Access Copes was altered to read Video Elements. Access copies are to be requested by the source material ID number. In 2015, 2018, and 2019, accretions were added to the collection as separate series in accordance with previous arrangement and description decisions. Original folder titles for these materials have been retained.
Born-digital items from Series XII and XIII were physically separated and inventoried, forensically imaged, analyzed, and described. New York University Libraries follow professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the content.
