75th Anniversary Tanner Dance

In the fall of 1954, my mother attended a teacher workshop at Granite High School. It was there that she saw Virginia Tanner’s students perform for the first time.

“It was such a special performance!” she remembers. She had never seen children dance like that before, she was amazed. My mother was instrumental in bringing the Children’s Dance Theater to Ogden for the first time. Later she took Virginia’s teacher training. This is where I remember my mother presenting a dance idea from a children’s book. I danced during this presentation, as I was now taking lessons at the studio. (I am in this circle picture taken in the “yellow room”- 3rd from top left)

The studio was an oasis of creativity. Memories include climbing the stairs to the art attic where we twisted wire into wonderful shapes and dipped it into a colored plastic. All overseen by the wonderful Miss Ann. Hurrying to the dressing room under the stage classroom, and then climbing the stairs and hearing delightful music coming from the hands of Miss Ruby. Hanging like a monkey on the double bars in the big yellow dance studio. But most important, feeling like I was really seen and heard in this place.

I believe this is at the heart and soul of the Tanner Dance program, the ability of teachers to see the divine potential in each child. There is a sacred honoring of that spark, and it lights everything the studio has ever done.

I was able to dance with the Children’s Dance Theater, and at sixteen I too attended the teacher training program. I went on to teach high school dance, choreograph, and direct musical theater. My creative journey began at the studio. My daughter was able to continue our family’s connection to the studio by dancing with CDT during high school. Although she was the “new” girl she was welcomed with open arms, because that is the culture of Tanner Dance! Last summer I took my five-year-old grandson to the dance/art workshop. How wonderful to re-live my memories through him. It is thrilling to know that generations of dancers have come before and that it will continue forward. Congratulations Tanner Dance on 75 years!