Professor Anya Peterson Royce established the Performing Arts Archive and Laboratory in 1974 as a collection of interest to scholars in the fields of dance, music, theater, movement, and the visual and literary arts.
It includes collections of materials that she has gathered as part of her decades-long research at multiple sites. It contains books, films, and recordings, as well as microfilm and printed copies of primary materials on theatre and dance from research in Paris, Italy, London, New York, Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.
Important and unique collections include Hungarian dance, commedia dell-arte, Marcel Marceau, Tango, court dance, Russian ballet, and archival materials from the Pilobolus Dance Theatre (the topic of a forthcoming book). Not surprisingly, the collection is rich in Zapotec materials of many different kinds (poetry, drawings, paintings, lithographs, poster art, etc.)
The archive is used by scholars from throughout the world, who area also able to meet with students and participate in Professor Royce’s classes. The materials themselves are also used in courses and in student honors theses and dissertations as well as in Professor Royce’s own articles and books. There are also workshops connected to the library.
To get more information or to visit the archives/center, contact Anya Peterson Royce.
The College of Arts