http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/792797563

Bessie a portrait of Bessie Schönberg

Documentary on Bessie Schönberg (1906-1997), a renowned and beloved teacher and mentor of choreography. Tributes by Merce Cunningham, Jerome Robbins, Allan Gurganus, Patricia Bosworth and Meredith Monk, presented at a birthday celebration at the Dance Collection of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in 1995, are interspersed with Schönberg's own reminiscences of her life and work, including her friendship with Martha Hill and her performing career with Martha Graham, which was cut short by a knee injury. Schönberg is also seen working with young choreographers at The Juilliard School, Dance Theater Workshop, and Jacob's Pillow, and observing and commenting upon works by Victoria Marks, Ronald Brown, Claire Porter and Meredith Monk. Dance excerpts include Marks's Back, Brown's Dirt road, Graham's Heretic, Porter's If my words wore boots, and Monk's American archeology.

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