Finding Aid for Jan Erkert Papers, 1972-2022 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Maia Perez and Meredith Sproull

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Collection Overview

Title: Jan Erkert Papers, 1972-2022

ID: 12/13/21

Primary Creator: Erkert, Jan

Extent: 12.05 cubic feet

Arrangement:

The Jan Erkert Papers are organized in trhee series: Series 1: Performance Materials, Recordings, and Photographs; Series 2: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records and Personal Papers; and Series 3: Teaching Materials..

Series 1: Performance Materials, Recordings and Photographs is organized in six sub-series: Subseries 1: Video Recordings, Subseries 2: Soundtracks, Subseries 3: Photographs, Subseries 4: Programs and Flyers, and Subseries 5: Reviews. Sub-series 1 and 2 are arranged first by format, then chronologically within each format. Sub-series 3, 4, and 5 are arranged chronologically.

Series 2: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records and Personal Papers is organized in four sub-series, Subseries 1: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records, Subseries 2: Correspondence and Stationary; and Subseries 3: Publications and Workshops. Sub-series 1 is arranged alphabetically, and Sub-series 2 and 3 are arranged chronologically.

Series 3: Teaching Materials is arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 01/21/2022

Subjects: Dance, Dance Department, Dance Education, Fine and Applied Arts, College of, University of Illinois

Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Jan Erkert Papers consists of videos and photographs of Jan Erkert's performances and choreography, as well as audio tracks used for her choreography, reviews of her work, publicity and marketing materials, and business records for Erkert's dance company, Jan Erkert & Dancers.

Biographical Note

Jan Erkert is a choreographer, dancer, teacher, and author. She graduated from the University of Utah in 1969 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, and taught at Columbia College in Chicago as a professor of dance from 1990 to 2006. In 2006, she joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a professor and as head of the Department of Dance.

In 1979 she moved to Chicago to join the Shirley Mordine & Company dance company, then founded and headed the Jan Erkert and Dancers (JE&D) dance company, where as Artistic Director, she choreographed over 70 works. The JE&D company closed in 2000, but Erkert returned to the stage in 2003 with solo performances and collaborations with other groups, including the Kovler Center for Survivors of Torture.

Erkert's book, Harnessing the Wind: the Art of Teaching Modern Dance, was published in 2003 by Human Kinetics. Erkert has recieved numerous awards, including two Fulbright awards, multiple fellowships, and other recognitions.

Subject/Index Terms

Dance
Dance Department
Dance Education
Fine and Applied Arts, College of
University of Illinois

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Jan Erkert

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Performance Materials, Recordings, and Photographs],
[Series 2: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records and Personal Papers],
[Series 3: Teaching Materials],
[All]

Series 2: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records and Personal Papers

Consists of items related to the running of the Jan Erkert and Dancers Company, publication of her book, personal correspondence, and teaching. The majority of items come from the Jan Erkert and Dancers business records.

Sub-Series 1: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Business Records, 1981-2019

Consists of documents relating to Jan Erkert & Dancers Company, including records of the company's eventual closure. Arranged alphabetically, reflecting Erkert's original order

Box 10

Folder 11: Annual Reports, 2003-2020
Folder 12: Articles of Incorporation, 1981-2007
Folder 13: Corporate Minutes Book, 1981-2003
Folder 14: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Closing, 2000
Folder 15: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Closing Response, 2000
Folder 16: Not For Profit Permit, 2003-2005
Folder 17: Receipts and Invoices, 2006-2008
Folder 18: Registered Agent, 1981-2007
Folder 19: Tax Exempt Form, 2003-2019
Folder 20: Tax Exempt Renewal, 1981-2009
Folder 21: 1096, 2003-2004

Sub-Series 2: Correspondence and Stationary, 1993-2014

Consists of Erkert's correspondence and stationary, of note are the Jan Erkert & Dancers Newsletters.. Arranged chronologically.

Box 10

Folder 22: Jan Erkert & Dancers Newsletters, 1993-1999
Folder 23: Personal Stationary, 2000
Folder 24: Correspondence, 2003-2014

Box 11

Folder 24: Death/Bones article and note, 1999

Sub-Series 3: Workshops and Publications, 1982-2006

Consists of publications, including her book Harnessing the Wind, the book Dance Education in Aperican Public Schools, publication reviews, and workshops run by Erkert. Arranged chronologically by project or publication.

Box 10

Folder 25: Student Choreographic Workshops and Faculty Concerts, 1982-2006
Folder 26: Dance Education in American Public Schools (case studies), 1991
Folder 27: Human Kinetics Video Proposal, 2001-2003
Folder 28: Harnessing the Wind: The Art of Teaching Modern Dance, 2003
Folder 29: Harnessing the Wind Book Reviews, 2003
Folder 30: Harnessing the Wind Responses, 2003-2004
Folder 31: Memoirs Feedback, 2003-2004
Folder 32: Memoirs Press Kit, 2003

Box 11

Folder 25: Early draft of Harnessing the Wind, 1998
Folder 26: Harnessing the Wind rejections, 2001
Folder 27: Harnessing the Wind photo releases, 2001
Folder 28: Harnessing the Wind permissions, 2001-2002
Folder 29: Harnessing the Wind contracts, 2001-2003
Folder 30: Harnessing the Wind drawings, 2002
Folder 31: Harnessing the Wind marketing materials, 2003
Folder 32: Harnessing the Wind marketing folder, 2003

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Performance Materials, Recordings, and Photographs],
[Series 2: Jan Erkert & Dancers Company Records and Personal Papers],
[Series 3: Teaching Materials],
[All]