Marilyn Cohen Oral History, 2005

Marilyn L. Cohen, a resident of Boulder, Colorado, talks about her life teaching dance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Between 1953 and 1972, dance classes at the University of Colorado were part of the Physical Education Dept. Charlotte Irey was the dance teacher. She recruited Cohen to teach dance in 1953 when Cohen graduated from the University of Illinois. Cohen taught modern dance and also square, folk and ballroom dancing. Irey sent her to see Lloyd Shaw in Colorado Springs, Colorado to learn square dance and calling. However, modern dance was the main focus at the University. Irey was the developer of the dance classes and program, while Cohen taught. In 1962 the first B.A. in dance was offered and in 1969 the first M.A. in dance was offered. This started the push to build major classes in dance including creative dance for children, various levels of composition, improvisation, and creative aspects of dance. Ballet classes were eventually added. In 1972 the dance program moved to the Theatre Dept. In 1986 the M.F.A. in dance evolved, which was more performance oriented than the M.A. program. Cohen also talks about various teachers, dance performances, and the lack of relationship with the Boulder community.