Shirlee Dodge

Shirlee Dodge ; ; ; ; ;Born in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin on April 28, 1916 Departed on January 20, 2008 Shirlee Helen Dodge passed away January 20, 2008, in Jeanerette, Louisiana at the age of 91. As a young woman, she became the first dance professor of The University of Texas, when she was hired in 1943 to start the dance program in Austin. While her dance program was initially part of the University's Physical Education College, she worked with Dean Bill Doty to move Dance to the College of Fine Arts, where it flourishes today. Shirlee taught modern dance, movement and choreography at the University of Texas until 1969, when she transferred to Stanford University and later The University of Iowa. ; ; ; ; ; Shirlee grew up in Prairie du Sac and Madison, Wisconsin. She viewed the world through beautiful blue eyes, and her adventurous spirit, sense of humor, and passion for dance were evident early on. By 1928 she and her sister were performing acrobatic dance routines in vaudeville shows in the area. She took on her first group of dance pupils when she was a junior at West High School in Madison, presenting programs that included tap dancing and acrobatics at the high school in Prairie du Sac. In 1934, she entered the University of Wisconsin, which offered the first dance major in the country. After being exposed to modern dance through the European concert dancers who performed in Madison, Shirlee moved to Dresden, Germany to study with Mary Wigman, considered the founder of modern dance. After graduation from the Wigman Institute in 1939, she taught dance in Gothenburg, Sweden until World War II interrupted her European adventure. After Hitler invaded Norway in 1940, she managed to join a Swedish sponsored group that traveled back through Germany and on to Genoa, Italy, where her group boarded one of the last ships allowed to sail for the United States. Once home, she turned her love of dance into a career that spanned 51 years filled with great performances and treasured friendships with talented faculty and gifted students alike. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Shirlee is survived by her daughter Pam Graham McIlhenny, and her husband, Edmund McIlhenny and their daughters Cassie and her family, Virginia and her family, and Mary; her daughter Nancy Graham Ehrig, and her husband Kenneth Ehrig, and their children, Jason and his family, Kevin, and Susan, and Susan's husband Jason Robert Thonhoff; her daughter Jet Graham Eckels, and her husband Robert Eckels, and their daughter, Kirby; and her sister, Doris Dodge Berndt, her nephew, Jack Berndt, and her niece, Deb Berndt and her family. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Shirlee's family thanks Ms. Marsha Jones, Maison Teche Nursing Center, Dr. Stephen Boudreaux, and Hospice of Acadiana for the friendship and fine care she received. A private family memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the College of Fine Arts of The University of Texas, at 1 University Station, D1400, Austin, TX 78712-0340. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA. 70560 (337.365.3331) is in charge of the arrangements.