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Ribbon Cutting for the Lauren Anderson Dance Studio
A large crowd attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Lauren Anderson Dance Studio and the Koehler Performing Arts Center at the Big Red Art Gallery in Ucross on Saturday, December 17.
In attendance was honored guest Lauren Anderson of Houston, Texas, for whom the studio is named. Anderson danced with the Houston Ballet from 1983 to 2006, performing leading roles in all the great classical ballets, appearing across the world to critical acclaim audience, and in the process, becoming one of Houston Ballet’s most beloved stars.
Pictured from left are: Chamber Ambassador Kathleen Wood of Sheridan; Stephen Jimenez of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Edward Koehler of Houston, Texas; Deborah Koehler of Houston, Texas; Ucross President William Belcher of Ucross, Wyoming; Lauren Anderson of Houston, Texas; James Nelson of Houston, Texas; Ucross Chair Jim Nelson of Big Horn; Ucross Vice President Susan Miller of Sheridan; and Chamber Ambassador Gail Symons of Sheridan.
Anderson spoke a few words about the honor.
She was one of first African-American ballerinas to become a principal dancer at a major ballet company anywhere in the world.
Since 2007, Anderson has been the Houston Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement program, for which she conducts master classes at area schools and lectures to students on dance and her historic career as one of America’s most distinguished African-American ballerinas.
She had this to say about the new studio.
Deborah and Ed Koehler, for whom the performing arts center is named, also joined in the festivities. Deborah Koehler, as Executive Director of the Raymond Plank Philanthropy Fund, provided a generous $1.175 million leadership gift to the organization as part of the ongoing Ucross 40th Anniversary Campaign to support the construction of the new building. Koehler is a former trustee of the Ucross Foundation.
Ed said one of Raymond Planks mandates to Deb would be to direct the funds in the future into something that was important to her and inspired her. He said that they had set up a number of partnerships with universities and other arts organizations to collaborate with Ucross, send residents to Ucross and support them while they are there.
He said his connection with the Huston ballet began when he was a student at Rice in the early 1970s. The Huston ballet was in its infancy at that time, he also talked about his connection with Lauren Anderson.
Aubrey A. Mailloux of Casper, Wyoming, gave the very first performance in the new dance studio. Aubrey grew up dancing in her hometown of Casper before moving to New York to attend SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. She has received training from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Austin, Butler Ballet, and Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival. She performed a dance she choreographed herself.
The new building, which connects to the Ucross Art Gallery through a glass vestibule, is designed to reflect the iconic profile of the Big Red Barn, but it offers several unique features.
In addition to the vestibule, a set of large accordion-style glass doors open onto a concrete patio, allowing artists to cross between the studio and the open air. The patio, which provides a stunning view of the Bighorn Mountains to the west, also doubles as an outdoor viewing area for public performances
