RECENT NEWS
Technique Enrollment Policy
(1/24/08)
To ensure an optimal learning environment for all students, to ensure that Dance majors can meet graduation requirements in a timely manner, to ensure fairness for all students, and to make the best use of faculty time, the Department of Dance will follow the procedure detailed below for pre-registration in Fall, 2008 Ballet and Contemporary classes.
Department of Dance
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the UNCG School of Dance at UNCG/HHP care of Sharon Storm Brown, 401 Dean’s Office, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170.
Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is assisting the Silver Family. Condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservice.com.
Dorothy B. Silver
1925-2008
Memories of Dot by her friends and colleagues
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As a friend said recently: there is/was only one Dot. She was truly an authentic individual, interesting, fascinating, different, a sincere artist totally devoted to the technique, the performance, the aesthetic of it all. Having studied Graham at Randolph Macon, it was a natural for her to join the company when she went to New York. She was no only a Graham dancer but worked with Merce Cunningham and Pearl Lang as well. Most recently, she went to New York for the Graham retrospective, performing lines and phrases of dances of Martha's, and feeling like a 22 year old at 82. She was thrilled to be part of this, and others in the area were so impressed with her and paid attention to her in the Voice, the NY Times, etc. It was perhaps the highlight of her life. New Orleans was her home town, and she visited family there around the holidays, so made the round of connections, her care circle, before she left us.
She will be remembered for her inspiring nature and her work. She was an intense woman, who made unforgettable choreographies like Ceremony of Carols, Seabirds, and many more moving pieces. She was also a person of the sea, with a home at Emerald Isle which many of us loved, going there to visit with Dot, or as renters. She loved the ocean, the beach, fishing, and was always up early bringing home flounder and blue fish while the rest of us were having breakfast.
Dot served as Vice President of the American College Dance Festival Association, and was a founding member of the NC Dance Association. She married a Professor of Physics from UNC-Chapel Hill and traveled the world with Marvin who was guest speaker at many conferences, was exchange teacher in many countries, so Dot studied the art forms of these places, while raising her three children: Paul, Doug, and Lynne. She was very sophisticated and understanding of the arts, many countries in the world, and their people. In the past few years, she has been the "nanny" for her grandchildren and loving friend to Laurie, her granddaughter who was attending UNC Chapel Hill.
Dot was deeply loved by her friends, her colleagues, her students and highly respected for all of her contributions to dance and to all of us who knew her. We all, and the whole dance world, will miss her terribly. She died of heart failure, just tired out, on February 11, 2008.
Gay Cheney, Colleague and Friend
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I will always remember Dot Silver as a vibrant and authentic person.
I joined the UNCG Dance faculty in August 1979, where I knew and worked with Dot until her retirement a few years later. Dot always stayed authentically who she was. She was the epitome of the “real artist,” and all of the students knew it. While she took her teaching seriously, it was in the style of the best mentors she had had who had helped her develop as an artist. She was always a voice for upholding high standards for the art.
At the same time, Dot was willing to be critical of practices in the field which were dehumanizing to dancers. Her stories of some of her experiences dancing with Martha Graham made clear that she found other ways to accomplish many of the same goals.
I also remember Dot as being a great deal of fun. I loved being able to join Dot, Gay Cheney, and Anne Deloria in dressing up in outlandish attire on a couple of occasions—always to make a point, albeit with humor. Dot’s willingness to go along with these antics seemed to make it okay for me as a junior faculty member to do so as well.
It is inspiring to read of all of Dot’s accomplishments beyond dance as well. Her life offers a model for how one’s artistic self is a part of and contributes to being a whole person.
Sue Stinson, Professor
UNCG Department of Dance
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I was so sorry to read about Dot Silver's passing. I know she will be missed by the many people whose lives she touched. I had her for technique back in the mid seventies. I remember her energy more than anything. It wasn't a loose cannon kind of energy but a very focused and powerful energy that seemed to emanate from the very core of her body. And that body! She was so strong and her body was so compact, all muscles and tendons and no fat. I remember in my biology class back then we were learning about the mitochondria which was defined as the powerhouse of the cell. Dot Silver seemed to be the powerhouse of the dance department. Her technique was amazing and I feel lucky to have learned from her. I will always remember one particular move she did so beautifully where she stood with her back to us and bent backwards with her left arm above her head. She would land on the underside of that outstretched arm, just barely touching it to the floor and slide back along the floor with her hips raised up several inches from the floor. I don't know if I have described the movement very well but no one could do it as well as she could. I'm sure it was a Graham move but as far as I was concerned it was pure Dot Silver.
Han Nolan (Helen Walker, class of '79)
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My sympathies to Dot’s family and friends.Although I began MFA studies at UNCG some 25 year ago, Dot’s tough and dignified presence has stayed with me. She represented a sense of discipline to aspire towards. I recall some words she had posted on her office door – “Don’t tell me to relax – I like being tense!” (or something to this effect). Today I can appreciate her contrarian spunk all the more.
Joan Wagman
Independent choreographer
MFA 1985
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I'm deeply saddened to hear the news of Dot's recent passing. She was a wonderful instructor who helped me in so many ways. Night Journey is one of my most favorite memories of her.
Wex Carter, 1986 graduate