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A
Toast Offered by Provost and Dean of Faculty Marilyn Schuster
 Originally a Californian,
Susan Waltner came to Smith after completing a B.A. in Sociology
at Occidental College and a Master’s in dance at the University
of Wisconsin in 1967. She has taught Studio Courses in Modern
and Ballet; theory courses at the undergraduate and graduate
levels, courses on composition, improvisation, dance history,
the scientific foundations of dance, site-specific dance,
the performing arts of Asia, “Merce Cunningham in Context,” choreography
and the creative process. She also developed a course called “The
Mindful Body,” an experiential anatomy course for performers
in music, dance, theater and visual arts. Since coming to
Smith Susan has choreographed more than 65 works for student
and professional peers.
Her creativity extends to program-building
as well as dance. Two programs that she helped create and
nurture are the Five College Dance Department ,which is one
of the largest academic dance programs in the country, and
Smith’s MFA in Dance, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary
this year. The Smith MFA program was truly Susan’s creation
and is a continuing tribute to her vision and dedication.
One of the first students in the MFA program was Becky Nordstrom
who is now a professor of dance at Hampshire.
Much of Susan’s
creative energy has recently centered on the Dance Generators,
an intergenerational company that consists of dancers ranging
in age from their teens to their 80's. Susan has performed
with Dance Generators in schools, libraries, concerts at
Marlboro College, senior citizen housing, and in last year’s
faculty dance concert.
This year Susan has characteristically
chosen to support the Smith and Five College Dance departments
by foregoing a final sabbatical and instead staying on part-time
to chair the department when Rodger Blum was on sabbatical
in the fall and to work with Lester Tome as he becomes established
as a Smith faculty member.
Susan and her husband Nick Dines
have long been active Williamsburgers. In recent years the
village has been transformed because of the Nick’s exquisite
gardening talents. Their two daughters, Emilie and Elanie,
have grown up the Williamsburg and are both finishing college
this year.
Rodger Blum recently told me
that he admires Susan’s
celebrations of life and love, with holidays, birthdays,
meals for friends, and performances. He said that his favorite
moments shared with Susan are:
| a few simple things
we both revel in each spring: the branch of early-blooming
witch hazel she brings to her office, the odd, glorious
redbud on Belmont Street that each year mysteriously
blooms in two colors, and the perennial triumph of
an ancient pink peony outside our old office building
that explodes in huge blooms despite being mowed down
each July. In these moments, Susan not only reminds
me of the small celebrations and triumphs of life and
beauty, but of the importance of seeing—truly seeing—as
a life habit and creative practice. |
We
have all admired her choreography over the years and her
talent as a dancer. The institutions she has founded, especially
the Smith MFA in Dance, will continue to be a tribute to
her vision and hard work. As we celebrate the program’s thirty-fifth
year let’s also raise a glass to our colleague Susan Waltner
in thanks for all that she has choreographed in her career
at Smith. |
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