Joan Woodbury and Shirley Ririe share a partnership that has lasted more than five decades, as the two have shared co-artistic directorship of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. And they still love working with each other.

"We believe in the same thing, we have the same ideas that are the core of our company," Ririe during an interview with both women in the RWDC offices of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. "Although we are very different people, we have a similar artistic philosophy, which is to bring the best dance to the stage and to teach dance and inspire young dancers to become the best they can be."

"We both love working with the creative spirit," said Woodbury. "We embrace it and try to convey it to our dancers and try to apply it to ourselves with every project we tackle."

Ririe and Woodbury are the recipients of the 2004 Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities in Utah, which will be presented May 23 during a ceremony and dinner in the Cottonwood Market Street Grill, 2985 E. 6580 South.

The award came as a surprise to the two women, who have devoted their lives to the promotion of dance and art in Utah. "I didn't know what was going on," said Woodbury. "I got a call from some of the Madeleine Festival people who wanted to speak with us. We could never get our schedules together, it was funny. Then the day we did, we went out and they told us the news."

Ririe said it is a real honor. "It means a lot to us. It tells us that the arts community thinks we're an important part of the mix. I've gone to most of the past awards dinners and it's a thrill being in the presence of some very wonderful and courageous artists. And now we've been added to the recipient list. That really makes us happy."

Past recipients of the Madeleine Award include Ardean Watts, the former Utah Symphony associate conductor; writer Emma Lou Thayne; Paul Pollei, director of the Gina Bachauer Piano International Foundation; and Mary Ann Lee, artistic director of the Children's Dance Theatre.

"We're thrilled to be in such company as those who were awarded before us," said Ririe. "It is nice to be recognized for what we've done in the community. And to know this award is an award that is given with all the arts disciplines in mind is wonderful. This is something that comes once in a lifetime."

Woodbury and Ririe may have been surprised, but it's easy to see why festival organizers chose these two women for the award. They formed the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in 1964 but had been working together since 1952. They met through a mutual friend, Elizabeth R. (Betty) Hayes, the former University of Utah modern dance director. Woodbury and Ririe made a deal with the U. and job-shared their faculty spot throughout the '50s and into the '60s.

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By 1963, the two had formed their own company — Choreodancers — because the members all danced and choreographed. A year later, choreographer, dance pioneer and mentor Alwin Nikolais told them to change their company's name. Woodbury says they settled on Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company because it's easier to say than Woodbury-Ririe.

Since that time, the company has performed all over the world and continually tours the United States. The company paid tribute to Nikolais and performed throughout Europe to rave reviews earlier this year.

"We have spent our lives promoting dance and educating anyone we can about dance," said Ririe.


E-mail: scott@desnews.com

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