Jo Rowan recently received an award from the Journal Record.
The Journal Record is honoring Jo Rowan, professor of dance and dance department chair, as one of “50 Making a Difference,” as well as inducting her into the Circle of Excellence for being selected for this honor for the past three years.
“To have an honor from the state and the city and such a respected newspaper as the Journal Record, they do so much good with shining the spotlight on what people do,” Rowan said.
Rowan said she was honored to receive this award in Oklahoma.
“If you have a dream to do something good and you work really hard to do it, it’s so nice if somebody shines a spotlight on it and says this is what you’re doing,” Rowan said.
Rowan said she really enjoyed meeting the people at Journal Record and the people working on “50 Making a Difference”.
“There’s kind of a nice family group of energetic, focused group of people trying to do some good,” Rowan said.
Rowan said she really loves Oklahoma, the people and the land, and is grateful to be awarded by this state.
“To be honored by the people and the land and for the state is just really a wonderful thing, and to have it happen three times is really great,” Rowan said.
Rowan said in 1980, if you wanted to be a professional dancer, all universities were teaching modern and ballet programs.
“I came back from Russia, and I was offered a job to teach a ballet modern program at OCU, and President Walker let me do what I wanted to do, which was honor America,” Rowan said.
Rowan said she wanted to put together a degree to recognizes ballet, tap and jazz.
“I was able to create that program, and I think that that was the thing that has produced so many working people in the business as far as performers, or managers, or teachers, and the Journal Record took hold of that,” Rowan said.
Rowan said from Oklahoma, the program has really changed show business throughout the nation.
“We’ve been able to teach people not just how to dance, but how to live as a dancer and remain employed, and I think that’s what the Journal Record is honoring me with,” Rowan said.
Rowan said after 40 years, the program has produced thousands of people in show business earning a living.
Caitlyn Soloway, dance pedagogy junior, said Rowan is one of the most inspiring people she’s ever met.
“She likes to see the potential in every dancer, no matter their background or where they came from, and I think that’s really important to do as a teacher,” Soloway said.
Soloway said she had a personal connection last year with Rowan when she had an injury.
“I had an injury, and I came back to school feeling doubtful about myself and I felt like there was no coming back from an injury, but she encouraged me to watch class from a teacher’s point of view because I was wanting to go pedagogy, and I think that really affected me and changed me because I felt wanted by her,” Soloway said.
Soloway said dance is a competitive field, but Rowan always makes every student feel valued.
“She wants to see us succeed, which I love about her,” Soloway said.
Rowan said she honors Ann Lacy for helping her fulfill the dream.
“No man is an island, we all have someone to help us do our dream, and Ann Lacy helped us fulfill our dream” Rowan said.
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