Deborah Reshotko Oral History, 2017

Deborah Reshotko was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis at age 13 which required her to walk on crutches through junior and senior years in high school. A friend took her to a dance class and then a choreography workshop and she was hooked on dance as a way to make movement that fit her body. She majored in Asian Studies at University of Michigan and danced with an African dance company directed by Vera Embree. Inspired by a summer workshop with Hanya Holm at Colorado College she went to NYC in 1978 to study with Alwin Nikolais/Murray Louis where Hanya was teaching. She performed in various showcases and full-length concerts. She loved choreographing and performing in site-specific work so in her move to Denver she sought out interesting outdoor venues for dance. A Colorado Council on the Arts grant for Rural Arts Initiative as Artist-in-Residence allowed her to work in Holyoke, Cortez, Rangely, Cheyenne Wells and Canon City, teaching improvisation, choreography and to create student performances. In 1990 with another CCA grant she created an intergenerational dance, History in Motion, about the geologic and social history of the future site of DIA. She established Speaking of Dance in 1993 to bring the community to dance and the dance to community. For 15 years, SOD traveled to over 400 schools presenting academic curriculum through dance. SOD site-specific dances in Denver include: Solar Fountain, inauguration of Performing Arts Sculpture Park, and Mesa Verde National Park’s 100th Anniversary. Awards include the Colorado Dance Alliance Service to the Field in 2005 and NEA grants in 2000 and 2001 to teach conflict resolution.