Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance History
Stories are among our most potent tools. We need to unearth old stories that live in a place and begin to create new ones. We are story makers, not just story tellers. All stories are connected, new ones woven from threads of the old. (Paraphrased – Robin Wall Kimmerer)
Join ARENA DANCES every Thursday lunch break for new podcasts, hosted by Artistic Director Mathew Janczewski. This series will share the histories of notable Twin Cities dance artists and the evolution of the industry’s landscape through time. Each week will feature a new guest of honor, sharing their story and impact on this gem of an arts town.
— Our special guest this week is Marge Maddux —
To listen to previous episodes, click HERE!
More about today’s special guest –
Marge Maddux was born on December 28, 1944 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Oak Hills High School in 1962 following a successful stint as a baton twirler and majorette. She graduated from Denison University in Granville Ohio in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1968 with a Master of Arts degree, following her studies under Bessie Schoenberg. She taught dance at Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota from 1969 until 1972. Marge was a founding member of The Ethnic Dance Theatre in 1974, and remained with the company for 30 years as a performer, while also assisting in the production of performances and in running company rehearsals. In 1972 she opened The Yarnery, a retail yarn store in St. Paul selling supplies for knitting and weaving. In 1973 Nadine Jette Sween hired Marge to teach folk dance at the University of Minnesota. Marge was the director of the dance program from 1998 until 2004 She taught her last class in the Fall of 2007, before retiring as an associate professor. Marge worked with architect Joan Soranno on the design and construction of a new building to house the dance program. The Barbara Barker Center For Dance opened in 1999. She worked to have the dance program receive its initial accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance in 1991. After retiring Marge moved to Ashland, Oregon with her family.
Missed last week’s episode? You can find all our previous interviews by clicking here!