Dance
Biography
Get to Know Susan
Susan was born in Detroit, Michigan and her first exposure to dance was watching the Scottish Highland dancers at the St. Andrew’s day picnic on Boblo Island. When her family moved to Southfield , the seven year old Susan started taking dance lessons from a neighbor for 25 cents a class. Those classes were in tap and jazz and involved performances throughout southeast Michigan.
While at Western Michigan University, Susan studied modern dance with Eric Hawkins, formerly of the Martha Graham Company. After transferring to Wheaton College, near Chicago, Susan had the opportunity to teach college level classes and realized she had found her calling!
After completing a BA in Literature from Wheaton, Susan went on to earn an MA in dance education from Northwestern University while continuing to take master classes with companies in Chicago and New York. Her eclectic approach to dance is influenced by classes with companies such as the Paul Taylor Dance Company, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Susan currently specializes in dance for older adults, teaching Silver Taps and Silver Barre for the Center for Life and Learning in Chicago. These CLL classes are available via Zoom and more information can be found at https://www.fourthchurch.org/cll/
Susan's Dance Students Say:
"Susan’s class is a joy— her creative choreography, her patience and humor, and her verve bring an infusion of light into this dark pandemic time. She’s priceless!"