Lisa Ullmann Archive

The archive primarily covers Lisa Ullmann's years in England. Included within the collection are:

• records of the Laban Art of Movement Guild, including AGM papers, minutes of meetings, the constitution and course information;
• courses, correspondence and recitals from the Manchester Dance Circle;
• records of the Laban Institute of Movement Studies;
• records of the Art of Movement Studio including course information, administrative records, minutes, correspondence with the Trustees, and information about staff, students and alumni;
• records of Modern Dance Holiday Courses;
• records about teaching and lectures;
• correspondence with individuals and correspondence about Laban's work;
• press articles;
• family history and personal papers;
• biographical records;
• periodicals, chiefly relating to the work of the Guild.

In addition, there are 26 boxes of uncatalogued material, which includes the original card catalogue, photographs, newscuttings, papers, audio-visual material and periodicals.

Elisabeth Maria Marthe Ullmann (1907-1985), known as Lisa, was a dance educator known for her work with the movement theorist Rudolf Laban. Ullmann was born in Berlin into an artistic family. She planned to study painting at the Berlin Academy of Arts, but participation in a movement choir led her to study dance with Lotte Wederkind and then at the Choreographisches Institut. She gained the Laban Certificate in the 1920s followed by the Laban Diploma.

In 1930 she joined the staff of Folkwangschule, Kurt Jooss's school in Essen, and also taught for his company. She came to Dartington Hall with the Ballets Jooss when they fled from the Nazi regime in 1934.

In 1937, she met Rudolf Laban in Paris and with Jooss's help brought him to Dartington in 1938. This began her 20-year partnership with Laban, during which she disseminated his teachings and assisted with Laban's work on industrial rhythm. In 1942, Ullmann and Laban moved to Manchester where Ullmann founded the Art of Movement Studio in 1946. The studio moved to Addlestone, Surrey, in 1953. Ullmann remained principal of the school until 1973. She continued to teach in the UK and abroad. Dedicated to disseminating Laban's work, she edited his books, lectured about his work, and safeguarded his archive.

Ullmann was instrumental in the establishment of the Laban Guild and the International Council of Kinetography Laban (ICKL), chairing both organisations.

Material arranged at time of cataloguing according to the format-based classification scheme which was then in use by the National Resource Centre for Dance.

Material is available to view in the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections Research Room.

Access to some collection items may be restricted, for instance where sensitive personal or commercial information has been identified during cataloguing, or to protect very fragile items. The Archives team will advise of any restrictions that may be in place. Limited access to uncatalogued elements of the collection may be provided at staff discretion, depending on the nature of the material and the degree of existing organisation.

All records are open to public access under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless subject to specific exemption. Records containing personal information on individuals are subject to the terms of UK Data Protection legislation.

Deposited with the National Resource Centre for Dance in 1988 by the executors of Lisa Ullmann's estate.

A catalogue for the collection is available to view on the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections online catalogue .

An original card catalogue for the archive also exists.

Collection level description created by the National Resource Centre for Dance at time of cataloguing. Revised by Melanie Peart in 2021, and further revised by Simon Mackley in 2024.

This Archives Hub description prepared by Simon Mackley in July 2024. Please see the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections online catalogue for any subsequent amendments.

All requests to publish or otherwise reproduce material from the archive should be directed to archives@surrey.ac.uk in the first instance. Unauthorised copying or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

The life and career of Lisa Ullmann is additionally well-represented within the following collections held by University of Surrey Archives & Special Collections:

• Rudolf Laban Archive [collection reference: L];
• Laban Art of Movement Guild Archive [collection reference: LG];
• International Council of Kinetography Laban/Labanotation (ICKL) Archive [collection reference: KL];
• Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund Archive (uncatalogued) [collection reference: LUTSF];
• Joan Russell Archive [collection reference: JR];
• Audrey Wethered and Chloe Gardner Collection [collection reference: AW];
• Geraldine Stephenson Archive [collection reference: GS];
• Enid Platt Collection of the Manchester Dance Circle [collection reference: MDC];
• Laban Oral History Collection (uncatalogued) [collection reference: LOH].