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Local Movement: Five Decades of Dance in Ann Arbor - Directors' Cut

"The national 'dance boom' of the late 1950's through the 1980's expanded audiences and support for dance. Federal grants supported the development of college dance programs and touring dance companies. The University Musical Society brought dance to the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts, built in Ann Arbor in 1971. Both at the University and in the community, Ann Arbor became a destination for dance. Low-cost performance and rehearsal spaces, community support, and grants helped create and nurture a vital dance scene, and Ann Arbor became home to numerous modern and jazz dance companies including Dance Theater 2, Hydra, Whitley Setrakian’s People Dancing, The J. Parker Copley Dance Company, Jazz Dance Theater, and The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Recurring community dance showcases, such as Spring Dances, Fall Dances, Dancing in Summer, and others took place throughout the year, allowing many choreographers to share their work. The film Local Movement, by Aimee McDonald and Terri Sarris, explores modern dance in Ann Arbor from the 1970's through today." - Terri Sarris

This is the directors' cut of Sarris and McDonald's 24-minute original created for Ann Arbor 200.

Alvin Ailey of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater visits University of Michigan dance class, February 1969 Photographer: Eck Stanger

Alvin Ailey of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater visits University of Michigan dance class, February 1969 image
Year:
1969
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, February 10, 1969
Caption:
Instruction From An Expert: Alvin Ailey, head of the "Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater," which performed in Ann Arbor Saturday night conducted a dance class yesterday morning for University dance students. Approximately 80 persons attended the class, which was sponsored by the University's dance department. The dance students are preparing for their own concert, to be presented March 21 and 22 at the University. A review of Saturday's performance by Ailey's dance troupe will be found on Page 8. The group appeared under University Musical Society auspices. (News photo by Eck Stanger)
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AACHM Oral History: Fred Adams

Please take a moment to take our Living Oral History Survey and let us know what you learned.

Fred Adams was born in 1934 and grew up in Ann Arbor. He recalls summers playing in the Huron River, youth activities with the Dunbar Center and Jones School, his work as a paperboy, and some of the black neighborhoods and businesses in the Ann St. area. Mr. Adams worked for Johnson Controls for 41 years and owned his own business as an Industrial Manager.