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Eric Hampton Dance records

 Collection
Identifier: MS2339

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence, notes, financial documents, licensing agreements, programs, flyers, DVDs, photographs, and printed media reviews. The material dates from 1981 to 2012. These are records related to the operation of Eric Hampton Dance. Eric Hampton Dance was founded in 1991 by choreographer and ballet instructor Eric Hampton.

In a second donation added to this collection are 7 mp4 files of recordings of the tribute program titled "Eric Hampton . . . With Us, Again". The program was staged at the Dance Place. One recording is the entire program while the other six files cover the show’s individual parts. Performances of Hampton’s works are by Bowen McCauley Dance, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, DanceSmith, Karen Reedy Dance and the Maryland Youth Ballet. This performance was made possible by the Eric Hampton Dance Foundation. These live performance videos are composites of multiple shows and dress rehearsals from October 12th to October 14th, 2012.

Dates

  • 1981-2012
  • Majority of material found within 1991 - 2002

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Copyright of the choreography, as shown in the various recordings, rests with either the heirs of Eric Hampton or the Maryland Youth Ballet and cannot be performed without consent of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Eric Hampton Dance (EHD) was founded in 1991 by Eric Hampton, revered ballet instructor and talented choreographer. The purpose of the company was to bring Hampton's unique vision of classically inspired contemporary movement to audiences throughout the Washington, D.C. area. EHD attracted distinguished dancers and earned both local and national praise. The company received funding from various arts foundations, including the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Maryland Youth Ballet, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation. Eric Hampton Dance also had annual benefits to raise money and support for the Whitman-Walker Clinic, a non-profit health center specializing in HIV/AIDS and LGBT health care for the D.C. area.

Eric Hampton (1947-2001) was a distinguished choreographer and dance instructor in the Washington, D.C. area. Hampton graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and the Juilliard School of Dance. In 1969, he moved to Europe and joined the Netherlands Dance Theater and the Scapino Ballet. In 1978, Hampton returned to the U.S. where he joined the Washington Ballet as a soloist and resident choreographer. During this time, he also directed his own dance studio, Dance Downtown, until 1986. In 1981, Hampton became a faculty member and resident choreographer for the Maryland Youth Ballet. In 1991, Hampton founded his own company, Eric Hampton Dance. Harriet Moncure Fellows (née Williams), one of Hampton's fellow instructors at the Maryland Youth Ballet, became his artistic assistant at EHD. Tragically, Mr. Hampton was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) in 1997 and passed away in February 2001 at the age of 54. After his death, Hampton's works were left in the care of his close friend and colleague, Harriet Moncure Fellows. In 2012, Fellows helped establish the Eric Hampton Dance Foundation (EHDF) which licenses Hampton's choreographic work. Fellows holds the positions of President and Treasurer at EHDF. Elisa Clark, who received training from Eric Hampton and the Maryland Youth Ballet, is currently the Director of Repertory for the foundation.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet (7 document boxes, 7 mp4 files)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence, notes, financial documents, licensing agreements, programs, flyers, DVDs, photographs, printed media reviews, and other records related to the operation of Eric Hampton Dance. The material, which dates from 1981 to 2012. The Washington area dance company was founded in 1991 by choreographer and ballet instructor Eric Hampton.

Arrangement

Organized into 3 series: Management, marketing, and fundraising files, Performance files, and Reviews and publicity files

Physical Location

Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Ned Kraft, 2014 April 20 (Accession 2015.028) In 2022 October David Dowling donated the recording of the tribute "Eric Hampton . . . With Us Again" at the Dance Place on October 14, 2012. (Accession 2022.040)

  • Dance Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
  • Dance companies Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
  • Dancers Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Source

Title
Guide to the Eric Hampton Dance records, 1981-2012
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
2130 H Street NW
Washington 20052 United States of America