Timeline

Clark Center for the Performing Arts [Clark Center]

Chronological Listing of the history of Clark Center for the Performing Arts:

1959 – The Clark Center for Performing Arts was established in 1959 by Alvin Ailey (along with Thelma Hill) as a studio and performance space in the building of the Westside YWCA. On March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey and a group of young, Black modern dancers perform for the first time as members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York’s 92nd Street YM-YWHA. The Company travels on what Alvin Ailey calls “the station wagon tours” in a vehicle driven by a longtime friend of the Company, Mickey Bord. Edele Nielsen Holtz was the director of Clark Center. Many of the Clark Center programs, including a series of workshop performances for new choreographers, were suggested by Ailey.
1960 – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater becomes the resident company of the 51st Street YWCA’s Clark Center for the Performing Arts – the Company’s first official residence. Alvin Ailey choreographs his classic masterpiece, Revelations, which brings the Company international acclaim.
1962 – The first of an ongoing series of New Choreographers concerts, devoted to locating and nurturing new talent was presented
1963 -1966 Director – Marianna Gates
1963 – New Choreographers
1964 – New Choreographers
1965 – New Choreographers
1966 – Faculty Dance Concert (Saturday, 10/29/66 – 10/30/66)
1966-1967 Director – Joanna Nichols
1966 – New Choreographers – 9th New Choreographers’ Concert 11/20/66
1966 – Faculty Dance Concert (Saturday, 10/29/66 – 10/30/66)
1967 – 1970 Director – Kathleen Stanford-Grant
1967 – New Choreographers
1970 – 1985 Director – Louise Roberts
In 1970, Louise Roberts became the Clark Center director, remaining for sixteen years. In the 1970s the Clark Center entered the most active phase of its presentations program. Through its renowned New Choreographers Concerts and Summer Dance Festivals held in the Mall of the CUNY Graduate Center on West 42nd Street, Clark Center gained city-wide recognition as a dance presenter.
1970 – New Choreographers
The Rod Rodgers Dance Company, 1970-1972
1971 – New Choreographers
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Benefit Concert, 1971
Seamus Murphy Dance Company, 1971 or ’72
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience, 1971 or ’72
1972 – New Choreographers
1972-1974 Playwrights Horizons
In 1972 the Clark Center established Playwrights Horizons, an off-off Broadway theater company. Over 70 plays were produced in two and one half years under the direction of Robert Moss. Playwrights Horizons remained affiliated with the Clark Center until 1974.
1972-1979 Mercedes Baptista, guest teacher
1973 – New Choreographers
1973 – Dance Presentations
Fred Benjamin Dance Company
1974
In 1974 the YWCA building, in which Clark Center had been housed, was sold. As they tried unsuccessfully to lease the space from the Y until the building was sold, relations between the two organizations became strained, and eventually the dance school was moved to temporary quarters in 939 Eighth Avenue. At this time Clark Center was established as an independent not-for-profit corporation.
Clark Center Housewarming party
Reopening of Clark Center at 939 Eighth Avenue, November 24, 1974
1975
Dance Festival at the Mall was staged on the mall of the City University of New York Graduate Center campus on 42nd Street from 1975 to 1978.
1975 – New Choreographers
1975 – Dance Genesis: Three Generations Salute Syvilla Fort
1975 – Dance Presentation
1976 – New Choreographers Dance Festival at the Mall
1976 – Dance Presentations
1977 – New Choreographers
1977 – Dance Presentations
1978 – New Choreographers
1978 – Dance Presentations
Clark Center Dance Festival at the Mall, celebrating Clark Center’s 20th anniversary. 10 programs of dance were presented over 5 weeks. This dance festival was dedicated to Thelma Hill, who had recently died (NYTimes 6/4/1978). When the CUNY Mall was no longer available as a performance space, the decision was made to create a permanent dance theater for Clark Center. Plans were made for a 250-seat theater and additional studios for instruction, by renovating a building on West 42nd Street’s Theater Row.
1980 – New Choreographers
1980 – Dance Presentations
In 1980, renovation had begun on the new space on 42nd Street, and 30 companies applied for use of the theater. Grants of $30,000 from International Paper Company foundation, and $50,000 from the Mobil Foundation were received
1982
An agreement was drawn up by the city’s Parks and Recreation, by which the City agreed to give $650,000 toward renovation of the Theater Row building in return for scholarships, dance classes and performances for city youngsters for the next 15 years.
1983
After several years of work and vigorous fundraising toward this Theater Row Project, operations reached a standstill. Henry J. Stern became the new Parks and Recreation commissioner and expressed doubts about the contract between the City and Clark Center.
1985
By the end of 1985, the relocation project to Theater Row had officially failed, leaving the Clark Center in serious financial strain.
1986
Louise Roberts resigned as director of the Clark Center in August 1986
1986-1989 Director – Jerry Cole
Family Night at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater – Clark Center celebrated itself in the closing days of its summer dance festival. No ordinary family celebration, the evening was a tribute to Louise Roberts.
Urban Bush Women, 1986
1989
Clark Center for the Performing Arts continued its operations amid considerable financial struggles until 1989 when it closed.
2014 – Clark Center NYC was created by former faculty and students of Clark Center for the Performing Arts as a means to remember, honor and preserve the history of this seminal and vital arts organization.