1930-1959

1930

Effects of the Great Depression reduces enrollment to 2,500. Faculty include: Elizabeth Furber, Mary Agnes Murphy, Bonnie Cotteral, Florence Hupprich, Hazel Richardson, Marion Roberts, Alma Jones and Brance Williams. 

Graduate students begin to have an impact, but no specific graduate courses are offered; students may enroll in upper level elective course, History and Philosophy of the Dance. Dancing is one of four “major sports” offered by the W.A.A. Club practices five days a week, three evenings of natural dancing and two evenings of tap dancing. Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis are enthusiastically received in their debut in November (Mary Campbell, pianist, part of the musical quartet). Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet appears in July and returns in November on the Artist’s Course.

1931

German dancers, Yvonne Georgi and Harald Kreutzberg perform.

1933 

Mary Wigman Dancers appear on the Artist Course in February.

1934

College is renamed to Texas State College for Women (TSCW). One semester dance course required of all students, including Clogging, Folk Dancing and Natural Dancing (taught by Hazel Richardson and Marion Roberts). Sophomore and Junior Natural Dancing sequences (taught by Elizabeth Furber and Roberts). Intro and two advanced Folk Dancing courses (Furber); History and Philosophy of the Dance (Furber). Master of Arts in Physical Education established.

Udy Shankar’s Shan-Kar Dancers appear in January while Ted Shawn and his Men Ensemble perform in March. 

1935

Faculty expands to include Ella Mary George, Elizabeth Linscott, Emily Cate and Mary Duck. Course titles change from Natural Dancing to Modern Dance. Changes in the two-year PE practical requirement. Students must take three courses, dance, swimming and a sport. The fourth course is elective: three elective courses in dancing may be elected – Modern Dance, Folk Dancing and Tap. Selection of elective courses in activity and theory for the PE degree expanded: Fundamentals of Dance and Modern Dance (Linscott), Tap (Duggan), Advanced Modern Dance, Folk Dancing (Richardson), Advanced Folk Dancing, Advanced Tap Dancing and Advanced Dance Composition (Roberts). 

La Argentina performs in November. 

1936

Anne Schley Duggan joins faculty as professor and director. Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced courses in Folk, Tap and Modern Dancing, The Teaching of Rhythmic Activities and History and Philosophy of the Dance are offered. Duggan organizes The Modern Dance Group. Summer dance workshops begin.

Ted Shawn and his Men Ensemble return in February followed by Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in December. 

1937

Martha Graham and Dance Group debuts in April, and Ted Shawn and his Men Ensemble return in December. 

1938

Kurt Jooss European Ballet debut in January, Humphrey-Weidman Dance Company in March, and Ronny Johannson (solo dancer) in November.

1939

3,000 women now form the student body. Dance courses in tap, folk, modern and social dance are offered in beginner through advanced levels. Graduate students may enroll in folk, modern and tap classes. Modern Dance Group chosen as demonstration group at the Southern District, American Association of Health and Physical Education Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

1940

Faculty changes: Jeanette Schlottman, Julia Mary Connolly, Jessie Grossnickle and Pamela Robinson (tutors). College fees charged for the Drama Series. 

Students may elect from beginner, intermediate and advanced courses in ballroom, folk, modern and tap dance. The intention of the courses is to “provide opportunities for the student to develop skills in the fundamentals of movement and rhythm, and to develop appreciations for and knowledge of dance forms” [Unattributed quote].

BA and BS Physical Education degree options effectively create a dance concentration; PE majors may elect 12 credits in dance. New Course: Appreciation of Dance (three credits, Fine Arts credit) the study of basic elements common to all forms, social value, influence of “its most eminent exponents.” Lloyd Shaw Cheyenne Mountain Dancers appear in October. 

1941

US enters WWII. 

Women’s Recreational Association supports three dance activities: ballroom, folk and modern dance. Dance faculty include Bonnie Cotteral, Marion Roberts and Jeanette Schlottmann. Dance course is one of four required semesters of PE. Courses added: Game and Dance Activities for the Elementary School, The Teaching of Dance Activities and Studies in Modern Dance. Graduate course created: Current Theories and Practices in the Teaching of Dance.

Littlefield Ballet of Philadelphia appears in February, and the Humphrey-Weidman Dance Company performs in November. 

1942

College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) is formed. Dr. Duggan is named director. Dance minor is created and requires 18 hours. Three levels of ethnic dance are added. Jeanette Schlottmann is faculty sponsor of Modern Dance Group (prerequisite of one semester of modern dance). Student Union completed (which would later become the present-day Dance-Gymnastics Laboratory Building) and includes two dance studios.

1943

Mary Campbell joins faculty as composer/accompanist and musician for the Modern Dance Group to 1973. American Ballet Theater (ABT) performs in February.

1944

1945

American Ballet Theater returns in March.

1946

Margaret Roberts joins faculty as folk and tap accompanist. Advanced level classes added in Modern and Folk Dance. Markova-Dolin Ballet Ensemble perform in January, Rosario and Antonio and Company appear in February. Ted Shawn, La Meri and Barton Mumaw perform their solo/duet works in March when Ted Shawn and His Men Ensemble disband due to the war. 

1947

BA and BS students majoring in Recreation or Recreation Administration may emphasize dance. Dance, art, music and drama courses may be elected as part of the 30 hours of related courses. New course: Accompaniment for Dance, open to juniors, seniors and graduates.

Caperettes perform original popular culture entertainment for campus and tour to nearby cities. Charles Weidman and Company return in February, Markova-Dolin Ballet Ensemble return in October. 

1948

Charles Weidman and Company return in March; tap virtuosos, Paul Draper and Larry Adler, appear in March. Modern Dance Group performs at American Association for Health, Physical Education Recreation Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. 

1949

Martha Graham and Dance Company perform in March, and José Limòn debuts in November (Doris Humphrey, artistic director). 

1950

New undergraduate course added: Principles and Methods of Conducting Pep Squad and Drill Team Activities. Modern Dance Group creates mission statement: “An organization for those who wish to participate extensively in dance composition and to develop their personal skills in dance to a level of perfection necessary for public performance, concerts, lecture demonstration, and special programs both on and off campus.” Bascom Lamar Lunford and the Appalachian Folksingers and Dancers perform in March; Ted Shawn performs a solo concert in November.

1951

Dance minor is no longer listed, and ethnic dance is cut. Undergraduate courses added: Accompaniment for Movement, and Composition in Modern Dance. José Limòn and Company perform in October, and Harriette Ann Gray and Company appeared in May. 

1952

An article from the Denton Record Chronicle published in November states that “In every survey made of departments of health, physical education and recreation in the entire nation, that of the Texas State College for Women has been placed at the top.” Debut performance of popular dance drama, Ballad of Sam Bass (last seen in 1973). 

1953

New undergraduate course: Dance for Children. Master of Arts in Dance and Related Arts is offered. Modern Dance Group performs at American Physical Therapy Association National Convention in Dallas. 

1954

New course added: Choreography for Dance Concerts. Duggan promoted to dean of the College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation making her the first female in the country to be a College of HPER dean. 

1955

Harriette Ann Gray and Company return to campus for the third time in four years. This company now features two Texas State College for Women alumni. 

1956

New HPER building completed in March. Lura Kendrick is costume designer. The Modern Dance Group tours New York and appears at Jacob’s Pillow, the first non-professional company to perform on the Festival programs. 

1957

Institution name changed to Texas Woman’s University. College mission expanded to include graduate programs and expansion of majors. Undergraduate major in Dance is added; minimum 24 courses in the major. According to the 1957 course catalog, the major is designed to prepare teachers. New graduate courses: History and Philosophy of the Dance – Primitive Man Through the Middle Ages; History and Philosophy of the Dance – Middle Ages Through Contemporary Period; Research – Dance; Thesis – Dance. Ethnic Dance (beginner through advanced) returns to the curriculum. Ruth St. Denis presents an informal history of American dance in January. 

1958

PhD in Dance and Related Arts is created. New undergraduate course: Theory and Practice of Labanotation. New graduate courses: Problems in Dance; Seminar in Dance. The annual Thanksgiving concert is noted for choreography by the Modern Dance Group.

1959

Buster Cooper and La Meri guest faculty for summer workshop.