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Kamarck, Edward (ed.) / Arts in society: growth of dance in America
(Summer-Fall, 1976)
Morrison, Jack
The dancer: [institutionalizing dance], pp. 262-265
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Page 262
by Jack Morrison Associate Director, Arts in Education Program, The JDR 3rd Fund. (The editors of Arts in Society wanted an article on institutionalizing dance, its effect and consequences. In discussing this intrigu- ing problem with Shirley Ririe, Co-Director with Joan Woodbury of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company based in Salt Lake City, I began to explore what we thought "institu- tionalizing" was as it came about over the last twenty years or so with the Ririe-Wood- bury Company. A dialogue began to emerge, and the following is a somewhat edited inter- view with Shirley Ririe. The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company tours nationally throughout the year primarily for the Dance Touring Program and the Artists-in- the Schools Program of the National Endow- ment for the Arts. In the last two years they have established residencies and given per- formances in twenty-two states and sixty-six communities.) Jack Morrison: You and Joan were teaching at the University of Utah when you decided to create-institutionalize if you will-your Com- pany. Why did you start the Company? 262 Shirley Ririe: We didn't start a company. It happened. Many students at the University of Utah don't move away when they graduate. They stuck around in the community and wanted to dance. We wanted to work with them because Joan and I liked to work together. The alumni, naturally, had experi- ence and technical skills which allowed us to do more advanced choreography with greater demands on the dancers. It was just common sense. We didn't back into it. It was more like taking advantage of opportunities. One thing led to another. During the 50's we joined with others to form "Choreodancers" which functioned as a non- professional company. Then in the mid-60's Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis encouraged us to begin thinking seriously about forming a professional company. I think it was their faith and prodding which gave us the courage to "think big". Jack Morrison: Wasn't there enough to do at the University with teaching, choreographing and concertizing on the Campus? Shirley Ririe: Of course. There still is and it's exciting work. I guess Joan and I are born teachers and we love it. The University is oul artistic and professional base, a part of us. But professionally we continued to grow. I 00000'__
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