Congratulations! to Marian Turner Hopkins for 37 years of dedicated service to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Marian was honored with a reception In the Charles T. Woollen Lobby on Wednesday May 9th by colleagues and friends.
Marian earned a bachelor’s degree from Heidleberg College and Master’s degrees from Case Western Reserve University and The Ohio State University – Marian may have had a “Buckeye” beginning, but she is retiring a “Tar Heel” – having been one for the past 37 years. Marian came to Carolina’s Department of EXSS in 1975 as a part-time dance instructor, and became a full-time member of the faculty in 1979. She has taught all levels of modern dance and jazz technique – as well as a course titled “The Theory and Practice of Modern Dance”. We have enjoyed and benefited greatly from her extensive and significant dance teaching, but she has also shared that knowledge – having also taught dance at Duke University, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Charlotte, NC Central University, Meredith College, Elon
University, Wake Forest University and Towson State University.
A performer as well as a teacher –
Marian has danced with the Frank Holder Dance Company, the Carolina Dancers Company, and the New Performing Dance Company – and with the Ten Year Retrospective Concert of nationally known dancers, including Clay Taliaferro and jazz great Mary Lou Williams. She has performed as a soloist throughout the Triangle area including the NC School of the Arts, as well as in Atlanta and Honolulu.
Teacher, performer…
Marian is also a choreographer – her choreography has been selected for the American Dance
Festival’s NC Choreographers Dance Project, the NC Dance Showcase, the American College Mid-Atlantic Dance Festival as well as works performed by several university dance programs – including the UNC Playmakers Repertory Company and NCCU’s Department of Theater.
In her “spare time” – Marian contributed in other ways – for example she has served as an adjudicator for the Mid-Atlantic College Dance Festival at UNC-Greensboro and on the Boards of the NC State Arts Council and the NC Dance Alliance.
In 1988 Marian founded the UNC Modernextension Dance Company through which modern dance performances are presented throughout the year. The Annual Spring Performance was April 20th and 21st – here – on the UNC campus – in the Student Union. This was a very noteworthy performance because it was the 25th Anniversary performance of Modernextension.
We are so proud of the dance legacy that Marian has created, fostered and now leaves behind. She has inspired many students over the years and created memories they will carry on for a lifetime. We thank her for dedication, passion and service and wish her a wonderful retirement.