Backstage Past and SPOTLIGHT on - David Wilck

This was originally published in the Principia College Alumni Dance newsletter, Back at the Barre (Issue #9 - March 2011).

Christine Dunbar’s “Backstage Past” column takes a look at the Principia Dance programs over the years.

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Greetings Dance Alumni and Friends!

In this edition of BATB, I would like to share Principia College graduate David Wilck’s professional experience in the field of Dance.

During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, David (at right, with Stewart Levin, left, in 1983; photo courtesy of Amy Nickell) developed a passionate interest in Dance. He studied dance techniques, choreography, participated in the Dance Productions as choreographer, performer, crew, and photographer and enrolled in the new academic course offering, “Understanding Dance” which had this description in the course catalog:

“General Introduction to Dance as Cultural History and as Art, with an emphasis on the development of Dance in America. Course includes the Philosophy of Dance and its Relationship to the other Art Forms; Study of History, Forms and Styles; Performance Appreciation and Criticism: Film, Video, Live; Knowledge of Major Performers, Teachers, Choreographers and Companies in the World of Dance Today. Required Textbook Reading; Lectures; Discussions; Research; Papers."

David’s classmates, who pioneered this course, included: Renee Chenue, Brad Heinig, Sylvia Hofflund, Victoria Miner, Deena Rohrer, Marcia Satterwhite and Gigi Schmiett. The class met in the Russian Room of The School of Nations.

As Principia’s Dance instructor at the time, I remember having a discussion with David Wilck’s parents regarding their concern about their son’s growing interest in dance studies versus other academic class options. I recall assuring his parents David was nurturing a talent and this was a good time for him to experience and put in to practice his new found passion for Dance. We all were glad he persisted, because David’s professional life after graduation included work as a Dance Critic for The Christian Science Monitor.

Backstage Past - After Frank Parker

This was originally published in the Principia College Alumni Dance newsletter, Back at the Barre (Issue #8 - December 2010).

Christine Dunbar’s “Backstage Past” column takes a look at the Principia Dance programs over the years.

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Last month’s issue of BATB reported Dance at Principia to be alive and well as early as 1924 under the celebrated tenure of Frank Parker. This month, I’d like to tell you more about the faculty, staff and student leaders who continued Principia’s dance education program through the years as we piece together the History of Dance at Principia.

Mr. Parker taught French, Literature, Aesthetics, Music, Art and Drama in addition to Dance. After Frank’s retirement in 1966, Principia College was not yet ready for a Full-time Dance Faculty position to be filled. The 1970 Principia Sheaf reports “students with previous ballet experience instructed their own course in classical ballet, modern jazz and interpretive dance“ under the watchful eye of Judith Miller, P.E. Instructor. (See photo to the left.)

Backstage Past - Frank Parker

The following article was originally published in the Principia College Alumni Dance newsletter, Back at the Barre (Issue #7 - October 2010).

Christine Dunbar's "Backstage Past" column takes a look at the Principia Dance programs over the years.
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The most current DANCE Magazine College Guide 2010-11 lists more than 600 College and University Dance Programs. This number has grown over the decades since the first college dance degree program was established in 1926 at theUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, under the direction and leadership of one of our renowned American dance educators, Margaret N. H’Doubler.

In the foreword to H’Doubler’s celebrated published book, Dance A Creative Art Experience, Gertrude E. Johnson, Assoc. Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, wrote the following: