The American Dance Festival Archives serves as the repository for records of enduring historical value created and collected by ADF. The Archives preserves its collections for use by the dance community, including students, scholars, and the general public.
The Archives encourages research and scholarship on the historical, cultural, and international significance of modern dance through the ongoing development of its resources, providing access to its collections, and participating in the dance archives community. In all its activities, the Archives supports and furthers ADF's commitment to the creation and preservation of the art form.
Each summer, the Archives documents the festival, primarily by videotaping and photographing performances, showings, classes, panel discussions, and other special events. Videos of performances are available to the public in Duke University's Lilly Library or at other libraries through interlibrary loan. In addition to Festival materials, the Archives collects videos, photos, audiotapes, and personal papers created by other individuals and institutions that document aspects of modern dance. Go to ADF Collections for descriptions of the materials.
ADF's publication A Guide to Archival Collaboration: The Partnership Between American Dance Festival and Duke University Libraries describes ADF’s archival procedures and policies and outlines its partnership with the Duke University library system. Written and produced by ADF in conjunction with Steven L. Hensen of Duke's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, the pamphlet suggests methods of preserving dance materials collaboratively and can be downloaded by clicking on its title above.
ADF is a member of the Dance Heritage Coalition, an alliance of major dance collections founded in 1992 that promotes national dance documentation and preservation, making accessible the materials that document dance of the past, present, and future.
Contacting the Archivist
You can email adfarchives@americandancefestival.org with questions or requests regarding our collections. Please include your name, affiliation (if applicable), and complete address and phone number(s) in your email.
For interlibrary loan (ILL) requests please see the ADF InterLibrary Loan form.
