Dancing through life: one teacher's story

By Kathryn Walters, Staff Writer walters14@up.edu

Since the age of two, UP alumna Jackie Culver has been jazzed about one thing: dance.

"I'd rather tap dance than eat chocolate," she said.

Her love affair with dance began when, as a sickly child who was told she would not survive to adulthood, she joined dance classes because doctors did not believe she would live long anyway.

58 years later, Culver continues to dance and has shared her love of dance with UP students for 31 years, teaching not only standard forms of dance like jazz, but also salsa, disco and the fox trot.

In her own approach as a dance teacher, Culver aims for fun and camaraderie above all.

"We don't do judgment. Everything is for fun and that's all," she said. "As long as they have a good time, I am happy and everything is fine."

Junior Morgan Willard, who takes one of Culver's three jazz classes, appreciates her commitment to the students.

"She's always very encouraging that everyone participates and tries their best," she said. "She always says if you laugh at anyone you have to do a solo in front of the whole class."

In her own dance education, Culver had the opportunity to be taught by many dancing legends, like Ginger Rogers, Martha Graham and Danny Hoctor, the man who taught Fred Astaire.

"The thing I love most about my training is that people can critique it all they want, but nobody can tell me what to do, because I've been taught by the best," Culver said.

Martha Graham was widely known as a great contributor toward the development of modern dance, while Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were famous for their versatility as dancers, as well as the many films in which they danced together, like Top Hat and Shall We Dance.

Culver was taught by Ginger Rogers between the ages of 10 and 13, when Rogers had retired in Oregon, and learned much more than musical theater dancing under her instruction.

"She taught me how to dance in heels, and to look like a lady twirling a skirt," she said. "She was the sweetest, most unaffected person in the world."

Meanwhile, Culver, at 11, challenged Danny Hoctor, Fred Astaire's former dance instructor, when he ordered her to keep up with his dance steps.

"I was able to follow everything he did. I stuttered at that point really terribly and so I stuttered back to him, 'Now you follow me!''' she said.

But the real influence in Culver's dancing, as well as her life in general, did not appear until she attended UP for her bachelor's and master's degrees in 1974 and 1981. Here, she met Jerry Badraun, who taught at UP as a member of the Performing and Fine Arts department from 1962 to 1992, and who died in 2004.

Culver still regards Badraun as a father figure in her life. He gave her a scholarship that made it possible for her to attend UP, and convinced her to keep dancing after she considered quitting.

"I think we can be blessed by our teachers if we allow them to bless us," she said. "Every time when I drive here, I am always thankful that God gave me this place and a scholarship and beautiful teachers."

Outside UP, Culver works as a trauma recovery and memory care therapist for children and patients with Alzheimer's disease, incorporating dance into their therapy.

"I saw the need to have the arts be therapeutic for them," she said.

In the end, Culver sees dance as a way all people can escape from the hum-drum of everyday life and express themselves.

"Some teachers may bore the crap out of you, but so will some jobs," she said. "You learn to tolerate some things, and then you can come to a wonderful dance class where you can work out, and it all works out."

Entertain Me:

The Neighbourhood

On Friday, Feb. 22, my friends and I attended a concert at the Crystal Ballroom. The main act was The Neighbourhood; Opener: The White Arrows; Opener to the opener: Chaos Chaos.

Chaos Chaos was unexceptional. This two-girl show was poorly paired. Everything about the lead singer was boring. Her hair was bleach blonde, her outfit looked like something you'd wear on a Saturday night out with your parents, and her voice was soft, airy and altogether unexciting.

But the drummer was great! She was energetic, talented and spunky. She wore sequined pants and sparkly tights. Her hair was pulled loosely into two buns on the sides of her head that kept coming undone as she played the drums with contagious energy. The whole time they performed all my friends kept saying was, "The drummer should be in a good band 'cuz she's awesome."

The White Arrows were much better! In fact, I might even go so far as to say they were my favorite act of the night. The group was composed of four guys. The lead singer kept switching head gear throughout their performance: from hat, to wig, to crazier hat. Their energy, like that of the previous drummer, was contagious and made us dance wildly. The music was louder and quicker-paced which we appreciated as we jumped to the beat of their songs. My friends and I received some strange looks from the people standing still around us, but we didn't care because the songs made us want to dance - a sign of good music.

Lastly, as my energy waned and the temperature rose in the crowded room, The Neighbourhood finally came on stage. Talented, comfortable on stage, and playing good music - we enjoyed their set. Unfortunately, at the end they denied us an encore that everyone cheered for. And that disappointment left a sour taste in our mouths. But overall, despite the chaotic beginning, the night was a success and I would suggest everyone check out The White Arrows and The Neighbourhood!

~Lydia Laythe