Colorado State University Director of Dance, Jane Slusarski-Harris.

Jane Slusarki-Harris, director of dance at Colorado State University, was one of five people recently honored for their contributions to dance in Colo.

Since 2004, the annual “Legends of Dance in Colorado” honors individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to dance. Starting with the untimely death of Freidann Parker, co-founder of Colorado Ballet, the Carson Brierly Griffin Dance Library realized it was time to preserve the rich dance heritage of Colo. The library launched the award program and selects individuals to join the ranks of dance legends in the state each year.

On Oct. 18, five individuals from different areas were celebrated for their contributions to dance in Colo. In addition to Slusarki-Harris, they were Garret Ammon, Monica Hill, Nancy Smith and Ingvar Sodal. The celebration was held in the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library at the University of Denver.

Slusarski-Harris was nominated in March by Joan Brown and Sandra Minton, who are both on the dance library board.

“I am very appreciative and grateful to many people, particularly CSU for allowing me to pursue dance for many years,” said Slusarski-Harris. “I have had the opportunity to work with different generations and it’s been fun.”

This year marks her 28th year at CSU.

The event was sponsored by the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library.

~ by Julianna Cervi, CSU public relations intern