Mock was known as an exceptional solo improviser with the ability to shift smoothly between characters of extraordinary theatrical and kinetic specificity. Mock brought his love of improvisation into his choreographic work with his company. Ruth Rosenberg, assistant director of the Ed Mock Dancers beginning in 1983, wrote at his death, "In his work with the company, Ed tried to achieve in set choreography the qualities and feelings that existed in his solo improvisations…. The freedom we were given…helped make us more independent and creative than many dancers have the opportunity to become."

In his latter career, Mock maintained a major presence in the Bay Area dance scene unaided by the security of a formal company, a large funding history, or a school in his own name. In spite of this, he was notified days before his death that he had been elected to the Bay Area Dance Coalition Hall of Fame and had been awarded the Coalition's "Dance Teacher of the Year Award." He died of AIDS-related causes.

KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
Unable to locate executor.

HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
(name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
None identified.

VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
(location, format, condition, assessment):
The LEGACY Oral History Project at The San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum (SFPALM) holds one videocatsette (1/2 in., VHS) of selected works choreographed by Ed Mock as part of a transcribed interview with Gina Gillombardo (see ORAL HISTORY below).

PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
(location, format, condition, assessment):
The San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum (SFPALM) maintains a publicity/program file that includes three black and white publicity photos by unidentified photographers. There is an additional file at SFPALM for Ed Mock's company called West Coast Dance Works, which also contains photographs.

MOVEMENT NOTATION
(location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
None identified.

PRODUCTION MATERIALS
(scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
None identified.

ORAL HISTORY:
The LEGACY Oral History Project at SFPALM holds Interview with Ed Mock, an interview with Gina Gillombardo that includes a written transcript edited by Jeff Friedman, 2 sound cassettes (1 master, 1 duplicate), and a videocassette of selected choreography and a personal interview. LEGACY states that this archive was created from an extant interview and is not, strictly speaking, an oral history.

PERSONAL PAPERS
(location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
The San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum maintains a file with approximately 70 articles, reviews, and printed programs. There is an additional file at SFPALM for West Coast Dance Works that also contains articles, reviews, and programs.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS
(archival assistance? storage? other?):
Search for executor.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
None identified.

PARTIAL LIST OF WORKS
(title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):
The following partial list of works was compiled from resumes and programs found at SFPALM and newspaper clippings found through newspaper microfiche searches. As a result, many premiere dates are unverified.

The Blacks (1973)—Directed by Robert Goldsby, University of California, Berkeley

Festival of Fools (1980)—Florence, Italy

Black Mischief (1981)—Venice, Italy

Holiday Spice (1981)—Victoria Theater, San Francisco

The Day Aunt Ada Came to Town (198-)

While Sheila Waits (198-)

Tight Like That (1985)—Footwork Studio, San Francisco

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Rosenberg, Ruth. 1986. "Eulogy to Ed Mock." [San Francisco's Bay Dance Coalition's] In Dance (June).
• Ross, Janice. 1986. [Obituary] Dance Magazine (August).
• Snider, Burr. 1986. "Top Dancer, Instructor Dies of AIDS." San Francisco Examiner (27 April).
• Tircuit, Heuwell. 1985. "The Delightful Footwork of Ed Mock and Co." San Francisco Chronicle (7 October).
• __________. 1981. "An Evening of Mock Dance." San Francisco Chronicle (5 December).