STUDIO STORIES: REMINISCING ON TWIN CITIES DANCE HISTORY
Stories are among our most potent tools. We need to unearth old stories that live in a place and begin to create new ones. We are story makers, not just storytellers. All stories are connected, new ones woven from threads of the old. (Paraphrased- Robin Wall Kimmerer) Join ARENA DANCES every Thursday at noon for Studio Stories, a podcast reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance history. Hosted by Mathew Janczewski, each week will feature a new renowned dance artist who has made an impact on the dance landscape in this big dance town. Know of someone whose connections should be shared? Let us know! Email us at arenadances@gmail.com
STUDIO STORIES: REMINISCING ON TWIN CITIES DANCE HISTORY
Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Roger Beck for David Voss - Season 22, Episode 207
•
ARENA DANCES
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
David Voss (1938–1991) was one of the foundational figures in the development of contemporary dance in Minnesota. A composer, musician, dancer, choreographer, and beloved teacher, he helped shape generations of artists through his work with the University of Minnesota Dance Program and Minnesota Dance Theatre. His influence extended far beyond choreography; he was known for his extraordinary musicality, intellectual curiosity, and deep commitment to nurturing dancers as artists.
Born and raised in south Minneapolis, Voss studied music at the University of Minnesota before beginning what became a lifelong relationship with dance. While accompanying classes for Loyce Houlton, he was encouraged to study modern dance himself, eventually becoming an integral artist with Houlton's Contemporary Dance Playhouse, which evolved into Minnesota Dance Theatre. Over the following decades, he composed music, danced, choreographed, and taught, becoming one of the defining artistic voices of Minnesota's dance community.
Voss joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1972, where his teaching profoundly influenced generations of dancers. As a choreographer, he created more than sixty works and was recognized for his ability to bridge music and movement with remarkable sensitivity. He was also an internationally respected guest artist, teaching and creating work in Australia and New Zealand.
David Voss died of AIDS on June 22, 1991, at the age of 53. Even after his death, his legacy endured. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts requested his choreographic films and had planned to include him in its Oral History Project documenting dancers affected by AIDS, recognizing the significance of his contributions to American dance.