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Dora Ruffner’s life overflowed with beauty, not just from dance but from
the very kindness that defined her. She moved with grace throughout her
all too brief life. As a dancer, choreographer, teacher, yoga instructor, friend,
and mother, she was known to many as a truly compassionate person whose
consideration touched many people.
Dora’s work is a cornerstone of dance in our city. She was a founding member
of San Antonio Dance Umbrella and served on the Board of Directors
for two terms. At Dance Umbrella, with Barbara McGee, Dora developed
the Dance Partners Program, a curriculum-based dance in schools program.
She was instrumental in the WIP (Works In Process / Wednesdays In Performance)
series, bringing her students to participate frequently and contributing
valuable comments in discussion. In October 2006, she was one of the
inaugural recipients of the Center Stage Award for her vast contributions to
the organization.
Dora received her undergraduate degree in Studio Art at Douglass College
and her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University where she
was Co-Director of Kaleidoscope Dancers. She was also an Instructor at the
Milton Feher School of Dance and Relaxation. She completed studies and
certifications in Craniosacral Therapy, Somato-Emotional Release, Massage
Therapy, Yoga, Intergenerational Dance (Turning the Wheel Productions),
Conflict Resolution / Mediation, and the Past is Prologue Native American
Learning Program. At the end of her life, she was pursuing a Ph.D. in Dance
at Texas Women’s University, with her thesis on Aztec Dance.
She was Lead Dance Instructor at Palo Alto College and the Regional Director
of Turning the Wheel Productions in San Antonio. She worked tirelessly
to establish a Dance Minor at Alamo Community Colleges. Prior to her position
at Palo Alto College, Dora was the Wellness Coordinator for ten years
at the University of the Incarnate Word. She created the Community Wellness
Program and also taught dance and yoga at UIW. Dora Ruffner was also
a founding member of the Modern Dancers’ Co-Laboratory
(MoDaCoLab). |
On June 1, 2007, we celebrated Dora’s exceptional life through dance. The evening included performances from Aztec Dancers, Erica Wilson-Perkins, Alamo Arts Ballet Theatre, Bana Ramanath's Natyanjali Indian Dance, Karen Barbee Adkisson, MoDaCoLab, The Maymester Project of Palo Alto & Northwest Vista Colleges choreographed by Roseangela Silvestre, Amber Ortega-Perez, Arathi School of Indian Dance, Guadalupe Dance Company, Alejandra Diaz Berrio, and Dora's students at Palo Alto. There were several restagings of Dora's original choreography. The evening raised several thousand dollars- part of which went to assist Dora's daughters and part which went to the funding of the Dora Ruffner Scholarship for Dance at Alamo Community Colleges. If you would like to donate, please send your checks to: Dora Ruffner Dance Scholarship at
Alamo Community Colleges,
ACCD Foundation, Inc.,
201 W. Sheridan, Suite C-3,
San Antonio, TX 78204.
Some video selections of the evening follow:
"Fuego", Aztec Dancers
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"D's Spirit", Choreographed Roseangela Silvestre, Performed by Maymester Project |
"I Will Dance", Erica Wilson Perkins |
"I don't really know life", Amber Ortega-Perez |
"Natya-Mantra", Bana Ramanath |
"Ganesha Vandanam", Arathi School of Indian Dance |
"Beledi Improv", Karen Barbee Adkisson |
"Dances of Veracruz, Mexico", Guadalupe Dance Company |
"Boot", choreography by Dora Ruffner, restaged by MoDaCoLab |
"The Nature of Nature's Love", Choreography by Alejandra Diaz-Berrio & Dora Ruffner |
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"Take Me to the River," Choreography by Dora Ruffner, Performed byPalo Alto College Dancers |
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