Roots and Wings: Virginia Tanner's Dance Life and Legacy

by Mary-Elizabeth Manley, Mary Ann Lee (Contributor), Robert Bruce Bennett (Contributor)

Roots and Wings recounts Virginia Tanner’s remarkable career as a dancer, artist, and educator. From her early experiences assisting at Evelyn Davis’s dance school in Washington, DC, to the creation of the Tanner Dance Program at the University of Utah, her influence on the field was pervasive. She channeled children’s energy, sharpened their senses, and encouraged youthful, authentic dance expression. Tanner’s work endures, continuing to echo with sensitivity and spirit in young dancers throughout the United States and abroad.

Manley’s extensive archival research and personal interviews depict Virginia Tanner as an innovative dance artist and ambitious leader in the field of modern dance. While exploring Tanner’s story, Roots and Wings emphasizes the value of unique instructional methodologies for teaching dance to young children and the vital role the arts play in children’s lives.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published November 10, 2023

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved being able to learn more about the life of Virgina Tanner. I started dancing at Tanner Dance in Salt Lake City in 1980 and it was such an important part of my life. Virgina Tanner passed away in 1978 and so I never got to know her although I benefited greatly from her teaching philosophy and heard lots of stories. I danced with CDT for 8 years and my 5 little sisters danced there as well. Later I had my own 3 daughters and they danced in CDT too. It was a joyful, safe, creative place to be and I'm so grateful to my parents for enabling us to participate.

My main takeaway from this book is how remarkable Virgina Tanner was in the Arts in Education movement. This still continues today at Tanner Dance and I'm forever grateful for my experience learning. Virginia Tanner is a pioneer of Modern Dance and shared a beautiful vision with the world. I'm extremely grateful for her!