Susan Hadley History

Susan Hadley grew up in Columbus, Ohio playing with neighborhood buddies, attending summer camps, singing in music ensembles, taking dance classes, playing guitar, skiing and hiking, camping across the US with her family, and loving school. After studying biology and psychology at Colorado College, she graduated from the University of Colorado with a BS in Health and Physical Education. She received an
MA in Dance from The Ohio State University.

Hadley was a principal dancer with the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group for whom she danced numerous original roles in such works as L’Allegro, Dido and Aeneas, and Mythologies. A company member in Senta Driver’s HARRY, she also performed Meredith Monk’s opera Quarry. She served as Rehearsal Director for Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, Mark Morris’ The Office, and the Morris production of Platee at the Royal Opera and Lincoln Center.

Hadley served as Professor and Chair of the renowned Department of Dance at The Ohio State University, where she taught modern dance and ballet, dance composition, music and choreography, repertory, and dance pedagogy. Hadley choreographed dozens of new works for students and founded/directed the first Brazil Dance Tour Group. As department chair, she oversaw major expansion of the faculty and curriculum to embrace dance forms of the African diaspora. She was honored with four university awards for distinguished teaching and service.

Hadley created new work for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Repertory Dance Theatre, American Repertory Ballet, BalletMet, Ballet Pacifica, Ballet Memphis, Contemporary American Theatre Company, OSUDance and Drums Downtown. She received multiple choreographic fellowships and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, Wexner Center for the Arts, Greater Columbus Arts Council, and New York State Council for the Arts.

With detailed attention to the formal structuring of time and space, Hadley asks how dance can include and reflect its viewers, moving them to understand something about themselves. Her works include:
Across the Field: a celebration of Ohio State University traditions as they reflect our national character, with 25 dancers from OSU and BalletMet, and 32 members of the OSU Marching Band.
WhoDunIt?: Characters from the worlds of classical ballet and film noir intersect in “The Case of the Missing Tutu.” (Original score: Bradley Sowash)
Blue Grass: a poignant romp among friends. (Music: Mark O’Connor)
Commonplace: A community wraps its collective arms around one another in times of sorrow. (Music: Veljo Tormis)
Companion Piece: Women’s friendships throughout a lifetime, from playmates to soulmates. (Music: Bradley Sowash)
Reunion: Family gatherings illuminate how we treat one another. (Music: Sowash)

All photos courtesy of Susan Hadley unless otherwise indicated.

Milestones

1973-75

Colorado College, student

1976-78

University of Colorado, BS

1979-81

The Ohio State University, MA

1981-85

Senta Driver’s Harry, principal dancer

1985

Meredith Monk’s Quarry, cast member

1985-89

Mark Morris Dance Group, principal dancer

1985-2020

Freelance choreographer, director

1991

Rehearsal director, Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project

1997-2001

Assistant Director, Platee, directed by Mark Morris

1990-2020

Department of Dance, The Ohio State University Visiting Artist, Assistant, Associate, Full Professor

2002

Outstanding Teaching Award, OSU Colleges of Arts and Sciences

2006

OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching

2014

Ratner Award for Distinguished teaching in the Arts and Humanities

2018

OSU President’s and Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award

2015-2020

Department of Dance, The Ohio State University Department Chair