Marina Svetlova papers, 1924-1963
A Guide to her Papers at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Hannah Keeney
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Svetlova, Marina,
1922-2009.
TitleMarina Svetlova papers, 1924-1963
Collection No.
C500
Extent
.4 cubic feet (1 box)
Language
Materials are in English,
French, and Italian
Abstract
Collection consists of the papers of
Marina Svetlova, a highly accomplished ballet dancer, choreographer, and late
Indiana University Professor. The collection contains a journal, performance
programs, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required
Biographical Note
Marina Svetlova was born Yvette von Hartmann on May 3, 1922 to Russian parents in
Paris, France. She began studying dance at a young age and debuted professionally as
a child performer in 1931, with the experimental dance troupe of Ida Rubinstein.
While in Paris, Svetlova studied under Vera Trefilova, Lubov Egorova, and various
other Russian emigres. She became a soloist with the Original Ballet Russe de Monte
Carlo in her late twenties, dancing with the company for three seasons and
performing notable roles in David Lichine's Graduation Ball and George Balanchine's
Balustrade. After Leaving Ballet Russe, Svetlova came to the United States.
In the U.S. she danced as a guest artist with the American Ballet Theatre in New York
City and in 1943, assumed the position of Prima Ballerina with the Metropolitan
Opera Ballet, where she remained for seven seasons, leading the opera's 1949 and
1950 tours. She was also a featured soloist with the New York City Opera Ballet for
one season, and led her own touring dance troupe from 1944-1969. In addition to her
performance career, Svetlova was also a dance teacher and choreographer. She worked
for the Southern Vermont Art Center from 1959-1964 before founding Svetlova Dance
Center in Dorset, VT in 1965, serving as its director until 1995. Svetlova joined
the IU School of Music and its Ballet Department as a part-time instructor in the
spring of 1970. By the fall, she was named department chair, a role she held until
her retirement in 1992. Svetlova lived in Bloomington until her death on
February 11, 2009.
Arrangement
This small collection is organized into one series, Subject files, which is arranged
chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
The collection is organized into a single series of subject files that include Marina
Svetlova's personal and professional correspondence, news clippings, and scrapbooks.
There are a good deal of materials written in Italian, including a journal/notebook
and other loose journal entries. Her papers also include small collections of
undated postcards and various performance programs that feature Svetlova as a
primary performer or director, and a set of three bound scrapbooks dating from
1958-1961 and undated, which contain news clippings (some from European papers),
letters/correspondence, drawings of ballet/choreography, and a “Manager's National
Concert and Artist Corporation Artist Catalog” from 1962-1963.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries'
online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by
searching the catalog using these terms.
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Separated Material
Drawing of a woman (not Svetlova).
Related Material
Related photographs may be available in the University Archives Photographs Database:
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/archivesphotos/
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
2012/154
Arrangement
This small collection is organized into one series, Subject files, which are
arranged chronologically.
Usage Restrictions For information regarding the copyright status of this collection, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Marina Svetlova papers, Collection C500, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
Transferred from the IU School of Music Library to the University Archives,
November 2012.
Processing InformationProcessed by Hannah Keeney.
Completed in February 2014.
Folder List
Series:
Box 1
Subject Files,1924-1963
Journal/Notebook,1924-1925
Correspondence,1947-1953
Programs,1957-1962
Scrapbooks,1958-1961,
undated
Artist Catalog,1962-1963
Postcards, undated
