A black and white photograph of a dancer in motion, wearing a dress and adorned with necklaces, captured mid-dance with a graceful pose.

Strike a Pose Images of Dance from the JSMA’s Collections

Morris Graves Gallery

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Gerda Peterich (American, born Germany, 1906–74) Pearl Primus Performing her “African Ceremonial” Dance, ca. 1945. Gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 in. U.O. Collection, Am56:Pe1..1.

Strike a Pose features images from the world of dance drawn from the JSMA’s collection of photography. Many of the works on view were acquired by what was then known as the University of Oregon Museum of Art after they were included in an exhibition of “Dance in Art” in 1963. Representing photographers and dancers active in the United States in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the images capture a variety of styles of dance, including African, Indian, jazz, modern, and ballet.