Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive
Encyclopedia
The Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive (WAPAVA), located in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area is one of only four public archives of theater and other performing arts
in the United States
. The archive was established in 1991 with the goal of creating and preserving a videotape
collection of stage performances in the Washington DC area. Archived entries must meet exceptional standards — World premieres, Washington area premieres, or are important but rarely performed productions. Such performances include theater, dance
, opera
, mime
and storytelling
.
WAPAVA also has the rare distinction of being one of only two AEA
-approved performance collections in the United States.
at the University of Maryland
. Under the agreement, the collection will be housed in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.
Additionally, Duplicate copies of all live performance recordings will be available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The archive was established in 1991 with the goal of creating and preserving a videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
collection of stage performances in the Washington DC area. Archived entries must meet exceptional standards — World premieres, Washington area premieres, or are important but rarely performed productions. Such performances include theater, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, mime
Mime artist
A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer...
and storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
.
WAPAVA also has the rare distinction of being one of only two AEA
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
-approved performance collections in the United States.
Relocation
For most of its history, the Archive has been available to the public at the DC Public Library, Washingtoniana Division. However, in the autumn of 2004, the archive announced a co-location agreement with the Clarice Smith Performing Arts CenterClarice Smith Performing Arts Center
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is a performing arts complex on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The facility houses six performance venues; the UM School of Music; and the UM School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. It also houses the Michelle Smith...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. Under the agreement, the collection will be housed in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.
Additionally, Duplicate copies of all live performance recordings will be available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.