Creative. Patient. Hard-working. Talented. Visionary. Inspirational. Loyal.

These are words students, colleagues, and friends use to describe Mary Kathryne "Kacy" Wiedebusch, long-time professor of dance at WVU and artistic director of Orchesis.

A native of Clarksburg, Wiedebusch has been at WVU since 1955, directing the dance program and the award-winning modern dance ensemble. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from WVU.

She can't remember a time when she hasn't wanted to be involved in dance. It started as a child, watching her mother and father ballroom dance-then taking lessons and performing, moving to New York City after graduation to study under legends like Martha Graham, and finally returning to Morgantown to teach, marry, and raise a family.

"Dance education has been my career, my life's work," she says. She credits her students for inspiring her and is proud of the program she has built. They, in turn, credit her for nourishing their talent and for developing a program of instruction and training built on a love and passion for dance.

Nancy Bowles, a former student and Orchesis dancer, thanks Wiedebusch for not only developing dance knowledge in her students but also for exposing them to theories of music, art, and drama.

"Kacy always involves her students in every phase of the performance or study project," Bowles says. "Equally important are the values of life and the depth of friendships and loyalties which she taught to me and the hundreds of students fortunate enough to enroll in her dance classes through the years."

Junior Danae DeMasi from Masontown, Pa., says she came to WVU because of the dance education program and is enjoying her third year under Wiedebusch's tutelage.

"I'm an elementary education major with a dance minor, and I knew of Mrs. Wiedebusch and the program she has built here," DeMasi says. "I want to teach and instruct, maybe even open a studio someday. Mrs. Wiedebusch has inspired and encouraged me to take dance to the next level."

DeMasi also refers to her teacher as "a mentor and a friend."

"She works so hard for this program, and she's not just a dance instructor to us. She knows her dancers so well that if we're having a problem, we know her door is always open to us. She looks out for us as students as well as people."

Under Wiedebusch's guidance, WVU's dance program grew from a few classes offered for physical education majors to a full-scale innovative dance curriculum that eventually became an interdisciplinary degree program in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences-the only accredited program of its kind in the state. Following academic restructuring in 1998, the program is now offered as a full academic dance minor in the College of Creative Arts Division of Theatre and Dance. More than 90 students are enrolled.

In the early 1960s, the visionary dance instructor also played a pivotal role in creating the Elizabeth Moore Hall Dance Studio in the building's former roof garden—still one of the finest dance studios in the nation.

She founded an artist-in-residency component in 1978, and since that time nearly 24 nationally known artists-the likes of Dan Wagoner, Valerie Bergman, Joann Woodbury, and Reneé Wadleigh—have graced the campus stage and exposed students to new and progressive styles of dance. Moreover, Wiedebusch has produced and directed more than 44 major Orchesis dance concerts and choreographed eight major contemporary ballets.

Her dance education philosophy blends education, performance, and professional development into a fluid package: "To have a successful, well-rounded dance education program at the University level you need an innovative and dynamic curriculum, an opportunity to display your talent with a performing ensemble, and a professional development catalyst like the artist-in-residency program that exposes students to professional artists and new techniques. We have that at West Virginia University."

Dean of Physical Education Dana Brooks agrees, saying Wiedebusch has put together "one of the outstanding dance education programs in the country." He notes that the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) has honored her twice: first as a founding member of the association and again for her commitment to dance on the college and national level. Her performing groups have received national and regional honors from the ACDFA as well.

To be recognized on a national level is "a great honor," Wiedebusch says, but instilling the love of dance in her pupils is primary. "I try to pull creativity out of my students. Sometimes they don't even know it's there," she says. "They have to give, to communicate to their audience. It has to come from inside. It has to say something. Otherwise, it's sterile."

That's why retired English professor Sophia Blaydes calls her "one of the University's treasures."

"If anything defines Kacy, other than her family, it is the dance program at the University, especially Orchesis," Blaydes says. "Always inventive, the programs are delightful and witty. The choreography, like Kacy, is appealing and pleasing. Her blend of costumes, lighting, music with movement is a tribute to her genius."

Through the years, Wiedebusch says, the program has been a "great ambassador" for the University. "Dance is our tradition and our legacy. We are the Pied Piper—and the students come to us," she says.

Her daughter, Carole, an adjunct dance instructor at WVU, says it's been "pure joy" to learn from and work alongside her mother.

"To watch her teach is an inspiration to anyone who is involved in education," the younger Wiedebusch says. "She has the innate ability to pull creativity from people, to make you feel inspired and accomplished in your performance. And, she is a taskmaster, always expecting the best from her students because she gives her best at all times."

Carole says her mother's most frequent rehearsal phrase, "One more time, please," is based on the philosophy that dance is a "disciplinary art form that takes time, patience, and infinite rehearsal."

This passion for dance is reflected in her students, who have gone on to teach, to perform, to choreograph, and to a host of other dance-related and non-dance professions.

In addition to teaching, performing, and studying dance, Wiedebusch continues to write grants and raise funds to help support the WVU dance program. She also assists her daughter Carole with the WVU Community Arts Program for area youngsters interested in modern, ballet, jazz, and tap, and she takes her Orchesis students throughout the state to bring dance education to the public, especially schoolchildren.

Because of her commitment to dance at all levels, she was asked to serve on the state committee for implementing the National Standards in the Arts Goals 2000 for grades K-12. "WVU faculty were very instrumental in helping the state develop goals and objectives for a comprehensive arts education program that provides dance, music, theater, and the visual arts," she says. It made sense, she believes, since WVU provides the training ground for many of the state's future teachers.

Wiedebusch has received numerous honors, among them the West Virginia Dance Educator of the Year Award (twice in the 1990s), WVU's Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award (1991-92), and induction in the WVU School of Physical Education Hall of Fame (1994).

She is listed in Who's Who of American Women 2001 and the World's Who's Who of Women in Education 2000. Her research emphasis is the London Contemporary Dance Theatre School and Trust and its founder, Robin Howard.

Wiedebusch says she considers herself blessed to have had such a wonderful, supportive family and talented, interested students. "I feel fortunate to have touched the lives of so many fine students and to have enriched and developed their performance and appreciation of the art form of dance," she says.

Besides her daughter, she has a son, Charles, an employee of Greer Industries in Morgantown.

Summer 2001 Contents

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