Mary Bywaters Dance Collection (Part 1)

A History of Ballet, Dance, and the Performing Arts

Biographical Note

Mary McLarry Bywaters:

Mary McLarry Bywaters, the daughter of Ethel and Denny McLarry, was born in Leonard, Texas in 1904. The McLarry Family moved to Dallas in 1908. Mary attended schools in Oak Cliff and Highland Park, graduating from Oak Cliff High School. She studied music at Ward Belmont College, Tennessee and graduated with a B.A. and B.S. degrees from Southern Methodist University. Mary studied piano under Paul Van Katwijk and was active in Ph Beta Phi and Mu Phi Epsilon organizations while attending SMU. After graduation she continued piano studies at the Paris Conservatory, Paris France under Isador Philip. After returing home Mary taught piano in her home.

In 1930 Mary married Jerry Bywaters. Jerry was born in Paris, Texas in 1906. He was a faculty member at SMU in Art, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art and considered one of the finest Texas and Southwest artist. Jerry died in April 1989.

Mary Bywaters was active with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra when Van Katwijk was conductor. She became active in civic organizations centering on the arts and performing arts. In 1957, recognizing dance was being neglected in Dallas, Mary co-founded the Dallas Civic Ballet. This began a long dedication to dance in Dallas, and worldwide. As president of the Dallas Civic Ballet for its first seven years, Mary helped the new organization develop a firm base and a recognized position in Dallas arts. The Dallas Civic Ballet preformed annually at the State Fair of Texas; its Nutcracker became a Christmas season tradition along with other full scale performances of classic ballets such as Giselle. When the Dallas Civic Ballet became the Dallas Ballet, Mary continued her support through other organizations such as the Dalla sDance Council, Dallas Symphony, and other regional ballet organizations.

The Dance Archives created by Mary became in later years one of her largest contributions to the history of dance. This collection is a result of a lifetime of dedication and love. Mary Bywaters died in October 1988.

Jerry Bywaters Cochran

Jerry Bywaters Cochran, daughter of Jerry and Mary Bywaters is the oldest of two children, born in 1936. Her brother Richard (Dick)Bywaters was born in 1939. Both are currently living in Dallas and continue to support the tradition to the arts begun by their parents. Since a large portion of this collection contains materials concerning Jerry Cochran, a brief sketch of her activities is presented here.

Jerry took dance to the one step her mother never took - the stage. At first studying classical Ballet she soon felt a strong pull towards modern dance and movement as an art, including Mime. Jerry attended Julliard and studied in Paris, France as a Fulbright Scholar. While in Paris she studied Mime under Marcel Marceau, Etienne Decroux, and Preobrajeaksa. Jerry turned her talents towards choreography and teaching with the Dallas Civic Ballet, Dallas Dance Ensemble, and Texas Christian University.

The tradition of dance continues in the Cochran family with Jerry's daughter Mary Cochran. Mary Cochrain is a talented dancer performing with the Paul Taylor Company.

Background: History of Ballet in Dallas

The early ballet in Dallas was directed by Theodore Kosloff with Paul Van Katwijk conducting the Symphony in the 1930's. However, it was not until 1957 with the organization of the Dallas Civic Ballet that Dallas had a continuously performing organization. The various dance studios held separate performances and programs, and continued this practice after 1957. However, the studios supported the Civic Ballet with teachers, choreographers, and performers.

The first major production, Pulinella, was held in 1959, choreographed by Vida Brown. The Dallas Civic Ballet began a regular season of concerts, performances, and major productions which continued until 1976. A controversy over what is and is not a "professional" company developed, splitting the organization. The Dallas Ballet began its "professional" existence at this time and the Dallas Civic Ballet became a supporting society. The Dallas Ballet continued until financial problems caused the end of the performances in Dallas in 1988.

The Dallas Dance Council, a supporting organization, began in 1973. Although a performing Ballet company no longer exist, other dance organizations in Dallas need the support of the performers, teachers, and artist that make up the council. This organization continues to support many dance companies, schools, and studios with ideas, fund raisers, and other needs.

Thought the years other companies such as Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Dallas Dancers Unlimited, The International Theatre Arts Society (TITAS), Dallas Black Dance Theatre, also preformed and attracted national performers to the Dallas area. Although the Dallas Ballet has ceased to exist, other companies and the Dallas Dance Council continue their role in bringing dance to Dallas.

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Scope and Contents

The Mary Bywaters Dance Collection consist of a variety of materials tracing the history of Ballet and other dance forms in Dallas and worldwide. These items range from administrative papers of organizations such as the Dallas Civic Ballet, the Dallas Dance Council, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts to photographs, posters, brochures, booklets, flyers, correspondence, programs, and performance booklets from international, American, and Dallas companies. An assortment of costume catalogs from national suppliers, such as playbills, programs and piano sheet music, are also part of this collection.

The collection is arranged in Series I-XXIII, with a small section, Series I-A, of personal family materials. The folder labels and general arrangement were maintained basically in the original order created by Mary Bywaters. A small degree of inconsistency may appear in a few places due to changes in style through the years of collecting. An effort was made to alter some of these categories without disrupting the original arrangement. Each series is described giving a brief indication of the contents. Several people and companies appear in more than one category; an index has been provided in the bound finding aid in order to aid in overlapping areas.

Series I-A - Personal and Biographical Materials - Boxes 1 and 2

This small section consist of photographs and other personal memorabilia relating to Mary Bywaters and her family

Series I - Dance in Dallas - Boxes 3-30

This series consist of materials relating to the Dallas Civic Ballet, Dallas Ballet, Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, TITAS, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dancers unlimited, and other dance companies in Dallas. The materials include brochures, financial records, administrative papers, photographs, programs, newspaper clippings and other materials related to Dallas dance companies. The Dallas Dance Council is not included in this series; see Series VII. Arranged by company name.

Series II - Southwest Ballet Companies - Boxes 31-39

This series includes clippings, programs, and photographs relating to dance companies in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, arranged basically by city with Texas cities first.

Series III - American Ballet Companies - Boxes 40-48

Booklets, programs, clippings of dance companies in the United States with a large collection of materials on the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet make up this series. Arranged by company name.

Series IV - International Ballet Companies - Boxes 49-56

Beautiful booklets on the Royal Ballet of London, Canadian Royal Ballet, Russian Ballet, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and other international companies highlight this Series. Clippings, brochures, and programs are also included. Arranged by country.

Series V - Modern Dance and Other Forms - Boxes 57-70

This series covers two topics. The first consists of clippings, programs, and publicity materials for Modern Dance Companies. The second area is material relating to different forms of dance other than Classical Ballet, such as Tap, Jazz, and Mime.

Series VI - Festivals, Competitions, Workshops - Boxes 71-73

These boxes contain clippings and other publicity material for various dance festivals and competitions such as Jacob's Pillow and the American Dance Festival. This series does not include the Southwestern Regional Ballet Association (SWRBA) festivals; see Series VIII.

Series VII - Supporting Organizations - Boxes 74-89

This series consist of several sub series. Basically, materials in this series are related to organizations that aid dance and dance companies as societies, volunteers, or with finding. The first sub series consist of organizational and administrative materials of the Dallas Dance Council, including meeting minutes, bylaws, correspondence, and calendars. The remaining portion of this series contains information regarding other organizations promoting the arts in Dallas. The following two sub series contain flyers, clippings, and other materials relating to Texas and National organizations supporting and promoting dance or other performing arts with the exception of SWRBA, National Association for Regional Ballet (NARB), the Texas Commission on the Arts, and The National Endowment for the Arts. These organizations are a separate series. (VIII-XI)

Series VIII - Southwest Regional Ballet Association - Boxes 90-100

These materials consist of organizational files and general information regarding the Southwestern Regional Ballet Association (SWRBA), including bylaws, correspondence, and photographs. Each year since 1963 the companies in SWRBA have met for a festival. Materials relating to this annual meeting include photographs, clippings, publicity, preparation, meeting minutes, and a conference booklet. This collection contains a complete set from 1963-1987.

Series IX - National Association for Regional Ballet (NARB) and Other Regional Organizations - Boxes 101-105

This series contains general information regarding NARB 1960-198 and the Northwest, Southwest, Mid-States, and Pacific Regional Ballet organizations.

Series X and XI - Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts - 106-118

These two series contain general guidelines for both the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Jerry Bywaters Cochran served on the Dance Advisory Panels; materials related to these panels are contained in these two series. The Texas Cmmission on the Arts ranges from 1967-1987 and the NEA from legislation in 1966 to 1981. Both groups contain grant applications and guidelines.

Series XII - Biographical Files - Boxes 119-140

This series is arranged in alphabetical order by last name. Many of these people are also represented in other areas of the collection. Materials range from a single clipping on an individual to entire boxes. Not all people are dancers and choreographers; some are people Mary Bywaters felt contributed through supporting organizations, funding, or were of general interest to her personally. The major files include Baryshnikov, Martha Graham, Nathalie Krassovska, Denise Brown, Don Cranford, Nathalie Skelton, and Edith James to name a few. The materials include clippings, programs, flyers, resumes, and photographs.

Series XIII - Education - Boxes 141-154

The education materials are divided by studios, colleges, general education information, and booklist. The studios include clippings, photographs, and programs for Dallas, Texas and national studios. These clippings are arranged in alphabetical order with Dallas studios first, then Texas and other states. Following the studios are the Dallas Arts Magnet High School and colleges. The colleges are arranged alphabetically by name of the school, listing Texas colleges first. General curriculums and booklist are last.

Series XIV - Dance Critics - Boxes 155-157

This small series contains articles written by and or about dance critics from the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald, New York Papers, and a few other Texas and U.S. newspapers.

Series XV - Jerry Bywaters Cochran - Boxes 158-164

This series is based on the dance, choreography, and instructor careers of Jerry Bywaters Cochran, daughter of Mary and Jerry Bywaters, with a small section concerning Mary Cochran. The first box of this section contains general biographical sketches, photographs, newspaper clippings, and general programs from 1964-1976. Box 159 begins with programs for 1977-1980, contains "Objectives for Dance," written by Jerry in 1974 and programs for "A Day for Dancin" 1971-1979. Boxes 160-161 include various programs 1961-1981. Mary Bywaters' original order was maintained in this series and is basically chronological for boxes 158-161. Additional items relating to Texas Christian University from 1968-1982 are in boxes 162-163 with two folders in 164. The remaining items in box 164 are photographs, clippings and programs concerning Jerry's daughter Mary Cochran.

Series XVI - Dance Costume Catalogs - Boxes 165-176

This material is arranged in alphabetical order by costume company, Basically these catalogs cover the years 1970-1988 with a few earlier ones such as Danskin 1967-1968. These catalogs are valuable in tracing style changes in dancewear. Also included are a few record and book catalogs, mostly from Taffy.

Series XVII - Awards - Box 177

This one box contains clippings and other information regarding awards given for distinguished service either in dance or community service.

Series XVIII - Miscellaneous Dance Issues and Invitations - Boxes 178-180

These boxes contain general newspaper articles concerning dance in Dallas and the U.S., dance in other art forms such as painting, film, and television, general dance issues such as injuries, therapy, laws against dancing in Anson, Texas and Ames, Oklahoma, and a variety of other single items that did not relate elsewhere in the collection. Also included are various invitations to openings, programs, or other activities.

Series XIX - Music and Theatre - Boxes 181-191

This collection, although concerning dance, is not limited to this one area of performing art. Play's operas, musicals, and sheet music are included in this series. Information regarding theatres and symphonies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are arranged first and include programs, clippings, and general information, followed by other theatres in Texas, music sororities and other miscellaneous information concerning music and theatre. A section of playbills from New York theatres and St. Louis, Missouri theatres is included in this series. The sheet music, some of it very old, is basically piano music, and some are very fragile. Photocopies are restricted by copyright laws and also the condition of the materials. Titles of the sheet music are not included in the index. For a list of songs, see container list for boxes 188-191.

Series XX - IRS - Boxes 192-193

These folders are general appraisals of the various gifts of archival and other materials. This section is not included on the index. See container list for details.

Series XXI - Slides - Boxes 194-196

These are 35mm color slides of dance festivals and other performances, mostly of the Dallas Civic Ballet.

Series XXII - Oversized Items - Boxes 197-203

These include posters, photographs, and calendars that were too large for the regular boxes, plus a scrapbook from Theodore Kosloff, a harp statue given to Mary by Paul Van Katwijk, and Mary Bywaters' diploma from Oak Cliff High School and SMU.

Series XXIII - Krassovska Costume

A dying swan costume and shoes worn by Nathalie Krassovska in Swan Lake.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Photocopying of fragile materials is not permitted. Items of personal nature may not be reproduced without written permission of the Bywaters Family. Reproduction of photographs is permitted under the guidelines of the Dallas Public Library photographic reproduction policies.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

MA 86-3 Mary Bywaters Dance Collection Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library

Provenance

The materials in this collection were donated to the Dallas Public Library between the years 1983-1988, by Mary McLarry Bywaters and her family. The collection was maintained in its entirety with the following exceptions: duplicates beyond three copies of programs, brochures and flyers were returned to Jerry Bywaters Cochran; issues of Dancemagazine and duplicate posters were transferred to the Fine Arts Division of the Dallas Public Library

Processing Information

Processed by Cindy C. Smolovik, Archivist

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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