Connie Fisher and Ann Blessin Liturgical Dance Collection

Collection

Identifier: D014

Staff Only

Abstract

Ann Blessin was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and became involved in sacred dance in Denver, Colorado in 1969. She joined a sacred dance troupe led by Connie Fisher in 1970, and shortly afterward, Fisher and Blessin formed the Rocky Mountain Sacred Dance Guild. Blessin taught sacred dance at the Iliff School of Theology and was president of the National Sacred Dance Guild from 1993-1996. This collection contains videos, books, files, scrapbooks related to the Sacred Dance Guild.

Dates

1968-2000

Creator

Blessin, Ann Marie (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright not evaluated: The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. See: https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en

Biographical / Historical

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Ann Blessin learned Scottish dance from her mother at age 3. She moved to Canada at age 10 and continued to take dance and teach. Ann moved to Denver as an adult and soon became involved with the Sacred Dance Guild when Lee Fiser, Director of Music at Park Hill Methodist Church, asked her to create an epiphany to Benjamin Britton's "Ceremony of Carols." In 1976, Ann enrolled in the re-engagement program at Colorado Women's College to pursue her dream of working in nursing homes and hospitals. She worked for 16 years teaching dance in nursing homes and also worked at Camp Hope for the mentally and physically challenged. In 1981, Ann was elected President of the Rocky Mountain Sacred Dance Guild and hosted two Denver Festivals. From 1993 to 1996 she was president of the national Sacred Dance Guild. Ann ended her career teaching Sacred Dance at Iliff School of Theology.

Extent

8.0 Linear Feet (9 containers)

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

This collections contains: audio cassettes, VHS tapes, photographs, scrapbooks, notebooks, hymnals, and administrative documents.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 8 series: AV Materials, Scrapbooks and Photos, Choreography, Productions, Sacred Dance Guild, Rocky Mountain Sacred Dance Guils, Jubilate Dancers of Denver, and Administrative Documents.

Related Materials

Ann Blessin is a 2006 Living Legends of Dance. Her interview has been placed in: Friends of Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library 'Living Legends of Dance' Oral Histories (D009.05.0005.00009).

Processing Information

One scrapbook was received in poor condition. It has been exposed to water and mold was invading from the edges. It was disassembled (many of the photographs were not actually attached to the scrapbook) and housed in acid free box.