NAME: Nelson, KT

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
29 July 1955, Los Angeles, Calif.

»
Photograph of KT Nelson by Howard Schatz.

click to enlarge   
  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
    		•
  • other relevant information
  • overview of works
  • bibliography
  • back to introduction
    •
  • back to index of choreographers
    •

    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    In 1997 ODC/San Francisco co-artistic director KT Nelson choreographed a trio for three of ODC's male dancers, Kevin Ware, Daniel Levi-Sanchez, and Private Freeman. As the piece was in the final stages of creation, the physical vocabulary reminded Nelson of her colleague and long-time friend, Frank Everett, who had died of AIDS five years earlier. She titled the piece Frank and notes in a 30 September 2003 email that she did not set out to make a tribute to Everett or respond to the AIDS epidemic but rather "in a gentle way it reminded me of him." (See separate entry for Everett.) Frank featured a solo for each of the three performers—Nelson describes Ware's movement as sensual and decidedly masculine, Sanchez's as austere and quiet, and Freeman's as confident with an exuberant physicality. She adds, "Frank was a beautifully expressive dancer and performer with a range that these three men captured."

    Nelson joined ODC/San Francisco in 1976 while the company was still at Oberlin College and, in the same year, moved west to relocate with the group. Since that time, Nelson has choreographed more than forty works and was awarded the 1996 Isadora Duncan award in choreography for her piece Scout (she also won an outstanding performance award in 1987). Her choreography has been widely commissioned by companies such as Diablo Ballet, Ballet Met, and Maximum Dance. Nelson is the director of ODC's Educational Outreach Program and director of ODC's Jellies, a company of twelve young dancers, who perform Nelson's works as well as that of guest artists.

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    KT Nelson
    5920 Dorer Street
    Oakland, CA 94609
    510-594-0258 phone/fax
    ktnelson_choreographer@hotmail.com

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    KT Nelson (see above)

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION:
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    ODC/San Francisco holds video documentation of the work (1/2 in. VHS).

    Additionally, the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum (SFPALM) holds video documentation for the following of Nelson's works (all 1/2 in. VHS with printed programs or flyers/press clippings): The Eye has a Tendency to Choose (choreographed with Brenda Way), No Secrets, Red Roads, Red Roads in Wyoming All Lead Home, and The Velveteen Rabbit.

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    SFPALM maintains a photograph file for ODC/San Francisco in the ODC/San Francisco collection, 1971-[ongoing]. As of 8 September 2003, it is unknown if photographic documentation of Frank is included.

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

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    ODC/San Francisco holds sound recordings and costume pieces for Frank.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    Available at SFPALM: KT Nelson (radio) interview with Alan Farley, sound recording (1991) one sound cassette (30 min.): analog, stereo

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    ODC/San Francisco holds clippings, printed programs, and press releases for archival purposes. Additionally, Nelson holds choreographic notes in her personal files.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    None identified.

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    None.

    OVERVIEW OF WORKS PERTAINING TO HIV/AIDS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):

    Frank (1997)—music: folk music of Southwestern France, performed by Private Freeman, Daniel Levi-Sanchez, and Kevin Ware, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Felciano, Rita. 1997. "New ODC: Quasi-aerobic ODC/SF Enters its Next Quarter Century." SF Bay Guardian (11 June).
    • Roca, Octavio. 1997. "ODC Comes Up Shorts: First Program of Home Season at Center for the Arts." San Francisco Chronicle (7 June).
         		 
    index of choreographers »

    TOP