OhioDance History
Mission: OhioDance inclusively supports the diverse and vibrant practice of dance of all cultures and for all capabilities.
Equity, Inclusion and Justice: OhioDance is committed to honoring, nurturing and advancing dance through the lens of justice, inclusion and equal opportunity in all aspects of its programming, services and organization.
Vision: of OhioDance is to: Recognize, advocate, and communicate the personal, social, and educational value of dance to all Ohioans.
Association of Ohio Dance ``Companies (AODC) was established in 1976 in response to a request by the Ohio Arts Council that dance companies in the state organize to provide a coherent channel of communication to, and within, the dance field. AODC was incorporated in the state of Ohio as a 501 (c) (3). AODC included representatives from 16 dance companies in Ohio. The Companies were; Cleveland Ballet, Columbus Theatre Ballet, BalletMet, Ballet Western Reserve, Canton Ballet, Cleveland Modern Dance Association, Lynn Dally Company, Ohio Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dancentral, Cincinnati Ballet, Contemporary Dance Theatre, Shalhevet Folk Dance Ensemble, Toledo Ballet, ZIVILI.
In 1984 the organization changed its name to OhioDance. The organization held offices in Cleveland until 1989 when it moved to Columbus.
Today, OhioDance presents the arts to the community through festivals, conferences, performance opportunities, a groundbreaking Virtual Dance Collection, educational resources, professional networking and a comprehensive website. OhioDance supports the creation of art through its celebration of Ohio’s dance artists, expands and enriches an accessible platform that engages the public with Ohio’s dance, enables lifelong learning in dance, and strengthens our community by honoring dance through a diversity of dance genres.
The organization pursues its goals through the contributions of a 30-member board of directors representing dance around the state, and one full time Executive Director. OhioDance has a long history of inclusive programming with educational and networking opportunities available to all.
Milestones
- 1976
- Founded as Association of Ohio Dance Companies
- 1976-1979
- Election of First President, Gerald Kettelar, Cleveland Ballet General Manager
- Circa 1980
- Created First Dance Directory
- 1981
- Produced first statewide festival at Kenyon College in Gambier
- 1984
- Changed name to OhioDance
- 1987
- Served as fiscal agent for individuals
- 1988
- Received nomination for outstanding arts event of the year (festival) from the Greater Columbus Arts Council
- 1989
- Moved offices to Columbus, located in the James Thurber House; First National Performance Network residency hosted by Ohio Dance
- 1995
- Produced OhioDances!, a videotape of Ohio’s diverse dance companies
- 1996
- Published statewide dance directory and resource guide
- 1997
- Established website
- 1998
- Produced festival in Columbus in conjunction with Network ’98: Conference of the International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools; reestablished choreographers showcase
- 2000
- Established Two OhioDance Award categories: outstanding contribution to the dance art form and to dance education
- 2004
- Presented Ohio’s Dance Treasures in Columbus with Ohio State’s Theatre Research Institute, in conjunction with the Dance Heritage Coalition’s Exhibition America’s 100 Dance Treasures
- 2005
- Established professional auditions at the festival
- 2006
- Relaunched the Dance Education Website with new design and content
- 2007
- Presentation sponsored by OhioDance during The Ohio Arts Presenters Network in Akron, titled Demystifying Dance: Creative Successful Partnerships.
- 2008
- Added Dancer Health articles to the Newsletters
- 2009
- Revision of OhioDance website
- 2009-2010
- Presented a dance performance at the Ohio Statehouse for National Arts and Humanities month in partnership with Ohio Arts Council and Ohio Statehouse
- 2009-2010
- Collaborated with the Dublin Arts Council, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance and Ohio Department of Education, Division of the Arts to present a site-specific contemporary dance.
- 2010
- Presented an Imagination Conversation in collaboration with Oberlin College and Ohio Department of Education, Division of the Arts, discussing the role imagination plays in education
- 2010
- Partnered with Ohio Statehouse to offer Dance performance during the Summer Lawn Series.
- 2011
- Collaborated with VSA Ohio to offer dance residencies in schools for students with disabilities
- 2012
- Created the Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award for a High School Student
- 2012-2017
- Co-Sponsored the OhioDance annual Spring Festival and Conference with BalletMet, Columbus
- 2013-2015
- Collaborated with Amethyst, Inc., a recovery center for women and their children, to offer dance classes and a performance opportunity
- 2013-2015
- Offered OhioDance Fall Festival in different regions of state
- 2014-2015
- Created and developed The OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection, an interactive website that preserves and documents multiple achievements of persons and institutions who have shaped the intricate diversity of dance history and practice within the state of Ohio.
- 2015-Present
- Collaborated with Center for Balanced Living, a treatment facility for clients with food insecurity, offering movement sessions
- April 2017
- Unveiled the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection at the annual Festival
- 2018-Present
- Established residencies in schools based on the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection
- 2018-Present
- Co-Sponsored OhioDance Spring Festival and Conference with The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, Columbus
- 2019
- OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection Documentary film, Ohio: A State of Dance, at annual Festival.
Executive Directors
- 1977-1978
- Karen McNally
- 1978-1985
- Phillis Levine
- 1985-1988
- Harriet Wadsworth
- 1988-1990
- Doreen Dunn
- 1990-1992
- Vickie Dummer
- 1994-1995
- Diana Turner-Forte
- 1995-2001
- Robin Sheppa
- 2001-2003
- Karen Mozingo
- 2003-Present
- Jane D'Angelo
Board Presidents
- 1976-1978
- Gerald Ketelaar, Cleveland Ballet
- 1979-1980
- Jeanne Coen, Canton Ballet
- 1981-1983
- Melissa Obenauf, ZIVILI, Columbus
- 1984
- Margaret Tcheng, Ohio University, Athens
- 1985
- Tim Van Leer, Wexner, The Ohio State University, Columbus
- 1986-1987
- Jeanne Coen, Canton Ballet
- 1988-1990
- Vickie Blaine, Chair, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, Columbus Jeanne Coen
- 1990-1991
- Barbara Schubert, Ohio Ballet, Athens
- 1992-1993
- Marc Ozanich, University of Akron
- 1993-1995
- Arnecia Patterson, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
- 1995-1999
- Susan Van Pelt, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, Columbus
- 1999-2002
- Lucinda Lavelli, Unversity of Akron
- 2002-2005
- Susan Van Pelt, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, Columbus
- 2005-2006
- Constance Hawk, Ohio Ballet, Akron
- 2006-2012
- Neil Sapienza, University of Akron
- 2012-2018
- David Guion, Dublin Arts Council, Dublin
- 2018-Present
- Rodney Veal Sinclair College, The Art Show, Dayton
OhioDance Festivals
- June 5-7, 1981
- Kenyon College, Gambier
First Festival - Guest Speaker, William Como, publisher from Dance magazine, opened Festival - June 17-20, 1982
- The Ohio State University, Columbus
- June 3-5, 1983
- John Carroll University, University Heigh
- June 1-2, 1984
- Otterbein College, Westerville
- June 14-17, 1985
- School of Creative and Performing Arts, and the Dance Hall, Cincinnati
- June 11-14, 1987
- NEODance Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland
- June 6-11, 1988
- Celebrate the Diversity of Dance and Dance the Celebration! Alliance for Dance and Movement Arts, Ohio Theatre Columbus
- June 4-11, 1989
- The Ohio State University, Columbus
- June 14-17, 1990
- Survival: Endurance/Duration, University of Akron
- June 11-14, 1992
- Dance Uniting the World, BalletMet, King Arts Complex, Columbus
- June 12, 1993
- Baldwin Wallace College, Berea
- October 26-27, 1996
- Answers from the Heart, Galbreath Pavilion, Ohio Theatre, Columbus
- October 25-26, 1997
- Come into the Circle, University of Akron
- October 30-November 1, 1998
- Re:Generation Ohio Theatre and Capitol Theatre, Columbus
- October 29-30, 1999
- Dancing into the Millennium: Mind/Body/Spirit Wittenberg University and Kuss Auditorium, Clark State Performing Arts Center, Springfield
- November 3-4, 2000
- Think Globally, Dance Locally, Galbreath Pavillion, Ohio Theatre and Ohio State University’s Sullivant Theatre, Columbus
- October 18-20, 2001
- Celebrating 25 years of Fabulous Feats! Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland
- October 2003
- Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, Capitol Theatre and Galbreath Pavilion, Ohio Theater.
- May 20-22, 2005
- University of Akron
- May 12-13, 2006
- Dayton, Ohio
- April 20-22, 2007
- Bowling Green State University
- March 8 2008
- Ohio State University, Columbus blizzard, rescheduled May 31, 2008
- April 3-4, 2009
- Ohio University, Athens
- 2010
- Oberlin College
- 2013 Fall Festival
- Ohio Northern University, Ada
- 2014 Fall Festival
- PlayhouseSquare, Cleveland
- 2011-2017
- BalletMet Columbus
- 2018-Present
- The Ohio State University, Department of Dance
The OhioDance Award
The OhioDance Award was established in 1979 in honor of Gerald Ketelaar, first president of the OhioDance Board of Trustees, to recognize outstanding contributions to dance in Ohio.
In 2000, two categories were established:
- Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Dance Artform (recognizes choreographers and dance artists dedicated to the creation of new work and preserving dance history for future generations)
- Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Dance Education (recognizes dance educators dedicated to teaching dance and dance history as well as new, innovative dance techniques)
In 2011, creation of OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award, given to a High School Senior dance student.
In 2012, Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award, was added to honor the passing of Maggie Patton, Columbus resident founder of DanceCentral.
In 2016, an award in memory of Cheri Mitchell, Executive Director of BalletMet and OhioDance Board of Director was created to honor Outstanding Contributions to Dance Arts Administration (recognizes dedicated administrators in the dance field).
- 1979
- Josephine Schwartz, Founder, Dayton Ballet
- 1980
- Ira Weiss, Ohio Arts Council
- 1981
- Helen Alkire, Ohio State University
- 1982
- David McLain, Cincinnati Ballet
- 1983
- Heinz Poll, Ohio Ballet
- 1984
- Ian Horvath, Jr., Cleveland Ballet
- 1985
- Phyllis Levine, Executive Director, OhioDance
- 1986
- Frederic Franklin, Cincinnati Ballet
- 1987
- Kathryn Karipides, Case Western Reserve University
- 1988
- Andrew Bales, President/Executive Director, Cleveland Ballet
- 1989
- Jeraldyne Blunden, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
- 1990
- Jackie Calderone, TAPS, Columbus
- 1991
- Jeanne Coen, Canton
- 1992
- Daryl Kamer, BalletMet
James Truitte, Dayton
Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus
IntraCare - 1993
- Marc Ozanich, University of Akron
P.W. Manchester, University of Cincinnati - 1994
- Marjorie Witt Johnson, Cleveland
- 1995
- Kelly Holt, Case Western Reserve University
- 1996
- Vickie Blaine, Ohio State University
- 1997
- Dennis Dugan, Tech Directions Associates, Akron
- 1998
- Lucy Venable, Ohio State University
- 1999
- Jefferson James, Contemporary Dance Theater
- 2000
- Gladys Bailin, Ohio University, Athens (Dance Artform)
Lynda Sackett, Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood (Dance Education) - 2001
- Wilma Salisbury and Alex Martin, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Nan Klinger, Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet
Dick Blake, Cleveland (Dance Education) - 2002
- Kathryn Mihelick, Leaven Dance Company (Dance Artform)
Robin Sheppa, Columbus (Dance Education) - 2003
- John Giffin, Ohio State University (Dance Artform)
Dimi Reber, Antioch (Dance Education)
Sandra Kerka, Columbus (service to the dance field) - 2005
- Lucinda Lavelli, University of Akron, past OhioDance President ( Dance Artform)
Marlene Leber, Hathaway Brown School (Dance Education) - 2006
- Cheryl Wallace, choreographer, performer and writer, Cincinnati (Dance Artform)
Lana Kay Rosenberg, University of Miami University Dance Theatre (Dance Education) - 2007
- David Shimotakahara, Artistic Director and founder of GroundWorks Dancetheater, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld, Columbus, movement educator for over 51 years (Dance Education) - 2008
- Kevin Ward, former artistic director of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (Dance Artform)
Louise Guthman, Ohio State University, Associate Professor Emerita (Dance Education) - 2009
- Lynn Deering, Director of Dance and Artistic Director of the dance company at Cleveland State University (Dance Artform)
Madeleine Scott, Director, School of Dance at Ohio University (Dance Education) - 2010
- Nusha Martynuk, Choreographer and Professor of Dance, Chair, Theatre and Dance, Oberlin College (Dance Artform)
Kaye Davis, Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Akron (Dance Education) - 2011
- Gerard Charles, BalletMet, Artistic Director, Columbus (Dance Artform)
Karen Bell, The Ohio State University, professor, Chair of the Department of Dance, Dean of the College of the Arts, and Associate Vice President for Arts Outreach, Columbus (Dance Education)
Jazmine Rutherford, Ott-Budig Cincinnati Ballet Academy, Cincinnati (OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2012
- Diane McIntyre, Dancer/choreographer/director/teacher, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Loren Bucek, Columbus City Schools educator (Dance Education)
Taylor Ramos, Toledo School for the Arts (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2013
- Bill Wade, Executive/Artistic Director of Inlet Dance Theatre, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Marlene Robbins, Dance Specialist at Indianola Informal Alternative School, Columbus City Schools (Dance Education)
Chloe Napoletano, Akron School for the Arts
Matthew Keller, Miami Valley Ballet Theatre, Hamilton (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2014
- Mary Verdi-Fletcher, President/Founding Artistic Director, Dancing Wheels Company and School, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Kelly H. Berick, Firestone High School, Akron (Dance Education)
Emily Gaffga, Creative Movement Center, Cleveland (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2015
- Tom Evert, Artistic Director, DANCEVERT, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Karen King-Cavin, Educator, Columbus City Schools (Dance Education)
Paige St. John, Magnificat High School, Cleveland (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2016
- Rodney Veal, Sinclair Community College, The Art Show, Dayton (Dance Artform)
Susan Van Pelt Petry, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, former Chair, Columbus (Dance Education)
Cheri Mitchell, BalletMet, Executive Director (posthumous Dance Arts Administration)
Alexandra Cassidy, Beck Center, Cleveland (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2017
- Sheri “Sparkle” Williams, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, company member (Dance Artform)
Melanye White Dixon, Associate Professor, The Ohio State University, Department of Dance, Columbus (Dance Education)
Pamela Young, Executive Director, DANCECleveland (Dance Arts Administration)
Lia Ferguson, BalletMet, Columbus (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2018
- Sarah Morrison, Executive Director, MorrisonDance, Cleveland (Dance Artform)
Monica Kridler, Momentum Founding Artistic Director, Columbus (Dance Education)
Mari Davies, Executive Director, Toledo Ballet (Dance Arts Administration)
Lydia Davis, Miami Valley Ballet Theatre, Hamilton (Maggie Patton Dance scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award) - 2019
- Leila Hill, Margaret Leiber School of Dance, Brookville (Maggie Patton Dance Scholarship and OhioDance Outstanding Dance Student Award)