Tribute Honors Donor and Dance Legend Anderson

Anderson in action, courtesy of Langsdale Special Collections

Modern dance legend Eva Anderson’s gift of her papers, photographs, publicity materials and artifacts to Langsdale Special Collections helps us celebrate her life in perpetuity. On November 26th at Morgan State University, those close to her personally, professionally, and in spirit gathered to honor the late Baltimore choreographer and teacher in a way that was specific, personal, and a testament to the joy of movement and artistry she embodied during her five-decade career.

Langsdale's Rodgers-Koukoui with some Special Collections' show-and-tell

Langsdale’s own Angela Rodgers-Koukoui accepted the challenge of curating a mini exhibit of Anderson-focused ephemera that included photographs of Ms. Anderson and the Eva Anderson Dance Company, as well as publicity posters and even Ms. Eva’s theatrical costumes. Meanwhile, former Company dancers performed some of Eva Anderson’s best known works, including The Elephant and Hambone.

The Company in the 1970s

Eva Anderson Dance Company and friends in November 2017

The Sunday evening tribute showcased the talents of such local luminaries as Branch Morgan; professor of dance at Morgan and master of ceremonies Charles Carter; and Yvette Shipley and Sharon Henderson. Rodgers-Koukoui recounted Mr. Morgan’s recollections of Eva Anderson’s guidance in coaxing out his gifts as a performer. Her advice was to allow introspection to inform movement, which he showcased to great effect in his tribute.

Honoring a legend is a team effort, and University of Baltimore collaborated with the community (Angela even gave the audience a brief introduction to community archives), and with Morgan State. Howard Community College will be offering a scholarship in Ms. Anderson's memory(after working in Baltimore City's Cultural Arts Program in the 1970s, she made Howard County her home.) We're glad to be giving some treasures from Ms. Anderson's work a permanent place in the archives, where her gifts to Baltimore's cultural life will continue to live on.

Cultural Arts Program Exhibit Opens 3/7

By Guest Blogger, Angela Rodgers-Koukoui

I’m very pleased to announce the opening of the Cultural Arts Program photo exhibit next Monday, 2/15  3/7, from noon to 2 pm. The exhibit, which is a collaboration between Langsdale Library Special Collections and the Division of Legal, Ethical and Historical Studies, will be located in room 317 of the H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons. The exhibit will feature a timeline with photographs, videos, and artifacts from the Cultural Arts Program, which began in Baltimore City in 1968 as part of the Model Cities Agency and continued through 1993 in the Urban Services Agency.

As the curator and designer of the exhibit, I would like to thank Langsdale Library for all of its assistance, as well as LEHS associate professor Dr. Nicole Hudgins for including this exhibit in the opening of the Ethics in the Arts Week at UB.

The Cultural Arts Program was one of the most successful art programs ever created in the history of Baltimore City. I say this not only as an alumna of the program, but also as a current art instructor and researcher who is eager to understand why high-quality youth arts education has been limited to so few in recent years. My quality of life was improved significantly by participating in the Cultural Arts Program as a child. I grew up in one of the poorest areas of Baltimore City. People who do not understand this kind of environment are unaware of the horrible impact of living in a sea of hopeless and what it can do to a child’s development. I was a walking statistic, born to fail; it was through the Cultural Arts Program that I was able to gain a sense of value of both my self-worth and my community. These values have been instilled in me and other CAP alumni, which is why so many of us are now teachers and community leaders running youth organizations throughout the country.

A lot of historic milestones occurred during the quarter-century run of the Cultural Arts Program. A few of these include the desegregation of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the celebration of the first African American Heritage Festival (AFRAM), and the creation of the first Urban Ballet Company. Barriers were broken, lives were saved from the streets, and the community was thriving in the field of the arts. I hope this exhibit will educate and enlighten others to understand the importance of quality art education for every child, especially in under-served areas of the city.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Langsdale Library Special Collections department. When I came to UB as a community researcher and discovered that Special Collections had my history in their archives, I had no prior knowledge of archivists or the role they play. Archivists Aiden Faust and Ben Blake have no idea that their commitment to preserving Baltimore's history is what encouraged me to enroll here at UB. Now I'm not only a student, but also a student assistant in Special Collections. This has been a humbling experience, and I'm truly amazed by the outpouring of support I've had while attending UB.

I hope everyone is able to join us for the opening reception of the Cultural Arts exhibit next week March 7th!