Jan 20, 2010
From staff reports

Associate Professor Emerita of Dance Patricia Brooks, 79, died Dec. 13. Brooks was a part of the School of Dance from its very beginning, serving on the faculty for 31 years.

Brooks dedicated herself to the vision of a school built on one basic intent -- to inspire and guide each individual student in developing his or her unique creative, intellectual and physical self as a whole, wherever that professional and artistic path may lead.

She was integral in the creation of the Honors Tutorial Program in dance and served as director of studies from its inception in 1986 through her retirement in 1997. She created the "Viewing Dance History" course for majors and non-majors, as well as a senior level general education course, "Social History Through the Arts." She developed the pedagogy and non-major program in the school and developed her special love, the teaching of children's creative movement, with a community outreach program to the public schools.

Her early experiences in dance were instrumental in shaping her philosophy of dance and her dedication to the arts. Her teaching career began especially early, at the age of 14 when she found herself assisting and teaching children's classes. Later, after a year at Northwestern University and ballet training in Chicago, she began her professional performing career with the Theatre Guild National and Broadway Companies production of "Oklahoma!," going on to study, teach and perform regionally in modern dance.

She was committed to community service as a mediator and former member of the board of trustees of the Athens Area Mediation Service.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Fellowship in Athens. All are welcome.

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School of Dance

Patricia Brooks