Architects of the University of Arizona School of Dance, the husband-and-wife team of Jory Hancock and Melissa Lowe are retiring after 34 years on campus building one of the nation’s elite collegiate dance programs.
The couple joined the dance faculty and staff in 1987. Hancock has led the dance program since 1989 and has been the director of the School of Dance since its inception in 2005; Lowe is a professor of ballet and director of student services.
“This is the end of an era,” said Andrew Schulz, vice president for the arts. “The way that Jory and Melissa built and shaped one of the flagship programs of the university, and, certainly one of the premier dance programs in the country, is really remarkable. They’ve enriched our lives and this entire region with the incredible artistry and they’ve impacted generations of students.”
Hancock and Lowe have contemplated retirement the past few years and decided now was the time to step away with the program in such a strong position and in capable hands.
“We’ve both spent half of our lifetimes here on this campus,” said Hancock. “We feel so dedicated to this university. Our charge was to build the dance program and we feel we’ve done that. We’re walking away from a labor of love that’s been everything to us. Melissa and I aren’t sure what retirement even means because we’ve never taken much time off. It will be a new adventure.”
Lowe added, “It’s nearly impossible for us to summarize how we feel about our students. Literally everything we did in our time here was about and for these young artists. We love knowing our alumni family are out there, spread across the world.”
“I have been consistently impressed by the University of Arizona’s School of Dance,” said University President Robert C. Robbins. “Its students, faculty and staff are simply amazing, and the strength of this program is thanks in so many ways to the vision, leadership and example that Jory and Melissa have provided through their 34 years of service. Their success and the success of the School of Dance is a point of pride for us all, and I want to thank them for all they have done for our students and the entire Wildcat family.”
As their careers at the University of Arizona come to a close this summer, the College will take a thoughtful, national approach to find their successors.
THE DANCE EVOLUTION
The program has evolved from a “Committee on Dance” and 29 majors studying ballet and modern dance in 1987 to a dance department in 1995 with 100 majors, five studios, and an increase of staff and faculty. That year, dance was recognized as Arizona’s top undergraduate program.
In 2003, following a successful fundraising campaign, the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre was built. The $9 million center, designed specifically for dance, has earned three awards from the American Institute of Architects and was listed as one of Arizona’s top 10 “Architectural Achievements.” In 2005, the dance unit achieved school status, making it one of the few schools of dance in the country.
Today, about 500 dance hopefuls audition for 50 spots in a rigorous audition process. The school offers an equal emphasis approach to technical training and performance in ballet, modern and jazz that optimally prepares dancers for future professional careers in dance upon graduation. To study dance at The University of Arizona is to have the best of both worlds – a nationally reputed dance program with a conservatory environment, housed within an institution nationally lauded for scientific discoveries and research.
The University of Arizona Dance Ensemble is comprised of BFA and MFA students, who perform in more than 40 main stage concerts a year, including regular performances of the masterworks of George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, José Limón, Ben Stevenson, Donald McKayle, Anne Reinking, Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky and others.
Alumni have gone onto careers in every facet of the dance field. Graduates have joined preeminent companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Paul Taylor, Limón Dance Company, Hubbard Street, and Giordano Dance Chicago; performed in Broadway and touring shows such as An American in Paris, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, and Wicked; have been cast in iconic productions such as Radio City Rockettes, and Cirque du Soleil productions Mystère, The Beatles LOVE, Elvis, and Le Rev; and have gone on to shape the future of dance as choreographers, artistic directors, arts administrators, and educators in community studio settings, K-12, and higher education.
“As a former grad student and current faculty member at the School of Dance, I will be forever grateful to be able to call Jory Hancock and Melissa Lowe my teachers, mentors, colleagues, and UA dance family,” said Tamara Dyke-Compton (MFA ‘13). “It has been life-changing to have had the opportunity to learn and work under the leadership of two such wonderfully talented, inspiring, kind, intelligent artists/professors.
Highlights
- In 2015, ZoomTens ranked Arizona fourth in the country, after Juilliard, NYU Tisch, and Alvin Ailey/Fordham.
- In 2019 and 2020, the program was ranked No. 2 nationally among public universities by OnStage Blog and College Gazette.
- Subscriptions reached an all-time high of 860 subscribers to the 2019-20 season, continuing a four-year trend of growth.
- In January 2020, the School opened a new Physical Therapy and Pilates studio, where dancers benefit from an innovative collaboration between athletic trainers, physical therapists and doctors from Dance, Campus Health Services, Arizona Athletics and Banner/UMC.
- Expanding the curriculum design to a core of ballet, modern and jazz provided the foundation for what became a unique program nationally. This “triple track” approach prepared students best for professional dance opportunities.
- Diversifying classes to include African Dance, Hip Hop, Folk Dance, Pilates and Jazz.
- Connecting the program to the community and other cultures through collaborations (Tucson Symphony, Arizona Opera, Arizona Theater Company), international travel and philanthropic organizations