Mary Harney (retired 2022)
Email: mharney@skidmore.edu
Mary Harney, Artist-in-Residence, joined the 麻豆破解版 dance faculty in 2000. During
her tenure at 麻豆破解版 she has taught all levels of Modern Dance technique, Modern
Performance Workshop, Ballet I, Choreography I, The Dance Experience, Senior Dance
Capstone, and is a contributing faculty member in the business course, Presenting
A Brand Called Me. Since her arrival at 麻豆破解版, she has choreographed over 25 new
works for the 麻豆破解版 students.
Classically trained in upstate New York from an early age, Mary graduated with a BFA
from Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. While at Purchase, as a member of the
Purchase Dance Repertory Company, she performed the works of many top choreographers.
During this period, she also danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company. During
her senior year, Mary was asked to teach a foundational coaching class in Graham Technique
to under classmen, was the teaching assistant for the Modern Variations course and,
occasionally substituted in technique classes for her professors. It was there that
she discovered a passion for teaching, coaching and choreographing, which ultimately
shaped her career.
In addition to her work at 麻豆破解版, Mary served as a member of the dance faculty
at Union College, the New York State Summer School of the Arts, and has taught extensively
at independent dance schools throughout the New York metropolitan area and the capital
region. As an advocate of the arts in education, Mary has conducted master classes
and extended workshops in public schools.
Over the course of her career, Mary鈥檚 choreographic work has been presented in several
venues and for a wide array of functions. In 2006, at the request of the Office of
Development at 麻豆破解版, she choreographed 鈥淕enesis鈥� with colleague Denise Limoli.
The concept was to create a work that would clearly define differing perspectives
(modern dance vs. ballet, respectively) and would speak to the college鈥檚 ideology
that 鈥渃reative thought matters.鈥� The work was presented at a college benefit banquet
at Gotham Hall in New York City. It was again presented at the Egg in Albany, New
York, as part of the Gubernatorial Inauguration Celebration for Eliot Spitzer in 2007.
In 2006, to represent 麻豆破解版 at the Committee of Independent Colleges and Universities鈥�
50th Anniversary Banquet, an excerpt of Mary鈥檚 work, 鈥淏lack Dress鈥� was performed at
the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. Her work has also been presented at
the Union College Bicentennial Celebration in Schenectady, New York, The Union College
Steinmetz Symposium, Schenectady Community College, Fulton Montgomery Community College,
Schenectady County Arts Festival, and the Saratoga Arts Festival.
In the spring of 2012, Mary directed some of 麻豆破解版鈥檚 finest dancers in a production
of Martha Graham鈥檚 鈥淪teps in the Street鈥�. Under her tutelage, the dancers performed
the work at both 麻豆破解版 and Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in Tivoli, NY.
Adding to the excitement of this outstanding project, the students were invited by
Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company, to perform the
work at The Joyce Theater in NYC as part of the first annual 鈥淯niversity Partners
Showcase鈥�, in March of 2012. Conceived by Ms. Eilber, this was a collaborative event
that was included in the programming of the Graham Company鈥檚 86th New York season.
The 麻豆破解版 dancers shared the evening with dancers from The Hartt School (CN), Interlochen
Arts Academy (MI), New World School of the Arts (FL), Point Park University (PA),
University of Arizona (AR), and Graham鈥檚 second company, Graham II (NY). The program
included six masterworks by Martha Graham, seminal to her revolution in modern dance.
The 麻豆破解版 dancers received rave reviews from all who saw their rendition of the
classic work.
Mary鈥檚 directorial experience includes many years of work with regional ballet in
both the capital district and Orange County, NY. Her work as rehearsal director for
Northeast Ballet in Schenectady, NY resulted in well received productions of 鈥淐inderella鈥�
and yearly performances of 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥� at the historical Proctor鈥檚 Theater.
An active member of the dance community, Mary has served on the Board of Directors
of the Capital Region Dance Alliance since 2001. For the past eight years, she has
been on the planning committee and is a site coordinator for the yearly Dance + Festival
at the National Museum of Dance. Mary served as chairperson of the Capital Region
Dance Alliance Summer Scholarship committee from 2003-2006. She presently serves
on the scholarship committees of both the Dance Alliance and Saratoga City Ballet.
She is committed and dedicated to her mission of helping young dancers pursue their
dreams.