The Peter Sparling Papers include materials relating to Sparling's dance training, performance, and teaching. The papers are divided into eight series: Background Materials, Choreography, Correspondence, Dance Companies, Programs, Reviews, Photographs, Performance, Audition, and Rehearsal Videos, and Posters.
Peter Sparling is Professor of Dance at the University of Michigan School of Music. Well known as both performer and choreographer, he has danced with Martha Graham and Jose Limon.
Sparling got his first dance training while on a scholarship for violin performance at Interlochen Arts Academy. He added dance to his major and graduated in 1969, and then attended The Juilliard School, receiving his B.F.A. in 1973. While still at Juilliard, Sparling began touring with the Jose Limon Dance Company, traveling to Europe, Russia and Asia. He co-founded Dance Mobile with Janet Eilber, Ange Wolf and Diana Hart, all of whom he met at Interlochen. In 1974, he married another dancer he had met while at Interlochen, Shelley Washington. They divorced after three years.
In 1973, after the death of Jose Limon, Sparling was invited to join the Martha Graham Dance Company. Graham dramatically influenced Sparling's performance and his choreography, and he created and performed his own works during the six years he was with the Graham Company. When he left the company in 1979, he formed Peter Sparling Presents Solo Flight, and then the Peter Sparling Dance Company, as vehicles for his choreography. He continued to dance occasionally with the Graham Company until 1987.
In 1984, after several teaching residencies in such institutions as Barnard College in New York, Florida State University, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in Taiwan and the Laban Centre for Movement Studies in London, Sparling was hired as Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Dance Department. He was chair of the Department from 1988 through 1995. In 1984, he co-founded Ann Arbor Dance Works, the University of Michigan's resident dance company. In 1993, Peter founded the Peter Sparling Dance Co. a non-profit organization that continues today. Further information about Sparling's dance company or current work see http://www.dancegalleryfoundation.org.
