The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with Ruth Beckford

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The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with Ruth Beckford

3/31/2002

https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/A2002.031

Choreographer and dancer Ruth Beckford (1925 - 2019) toured with the legendary Katherine Dunham for fifteen years, founded the first recreational modern dance department in the United States, and also helped found the Oakland Dance Association and the Black Dance Association. Beckford was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on 3/31/2002, in Oakland, California. This collection is comprised of the video footage of the interview.

Total Sessions: 1; Total Tapes: 7; Total Run Time: 03h 08m 00s

The HistoryMakers

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SNAC Resource ID: 11634413

The HistoryMakers

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Beckford, Ruth, 1925-2019

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63v0h2g (person)

Ruth Beckford was born on December 7, 1925, in Oakland, California, to Cora and Felix Beckford. She began dancing at age three with Florelle Batsford, who taught Beckford ballet, flamenco, hula, baton, toe-tap and acrobatics over the next 15 years. In 1943, Beckford toured with the legendary Katherine Dunham. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School in 1944, Beckford began studying with Anna Halprin and Welland Lathrop. She was the first African American member of their companies...