Page 70 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

provide grants of more than Origin of a Dream On Pointe A Tribute to Suzanne Aker
$55,000 in tuition assistance each
year, sponsor specialized classes
for students with autism and “I had to start Ballet Lubbock. It was Aker illustrated
Downs Syndrome, host special necessary.” several children’s
performances for LISD and area - Suzanne Aker books and is an
schools, and donate more than accomplished
4,000 performance tickets to icon artist, with
our neighbors who otherwise Suzanne Aker founded Ballet Lubbock icons hanging
may never see the beauty of live in 1969. The debut performance was in churches
dance. We work every day to be a collaboration with the Texas Tech throughout the
a relevant and integral part of the Symphony Orchestra and the Amarillo United States and
greater Lubbock area’s cultural Civic Ballet. As the Avalanche-Journal’s the world. Until
community. Jack Sheridan stated, “It was an evening recently, Suzanne
that was not only the beginning of a new
hand-painted over
by Author Name era of culture in Lubbock, but also a night 200 Nutcracker and Angel Ornaments
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
Chairman of some job that requires a
Through all of these efforts, to remember and a pattern set for the each year to support Ballet Lubbock.
little blurb here
Ballet Lubbock impacts over 600 future.”
students on a weekly basis and Ms. Aker has been honored in many
performs for more than 13,000 Suzanne Aker did, indeed, begin a new areas, including being named one of the
audience members annually. But era. Notable Women of Texas and receiving
we measure our success not by our the Chamber of Commerce Pathfinder
number of students or audience Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ms. Aker Award, Who’s Who of America, Who’s
members, but by the relationships holds a B.A. Degree in Art and English Who of American Women, and the
we cultivate and the lives we from Tulsa University and taught dance National Dance Plaudit Award from
change. We envision an inclusive professionally for over 50 years. She National Dance Association. She was even
community, transformed by art, holds a Teacher Certification from the the ninth person inducted into the Buddy
embracing dance as an enriching Royal Academy of Dance in England and, Holly Hall of Fame. In 1998, Ms. Aker
and integral part of life. We want in addition to founding Ballet Lubbock, was honored as the first recipient of the
to bring the power of art to all was instrumental in the earliest days of Founders Award for Outstanding Service
people of the South Plains. The the Department of Dance at Texas Tech to Youth. Texas Tech University has
exciting part is that we’re just University. presented Ms. Aker with its Certificate for
getting started. Outstanding Choreography four times,
Outside of the dance world, Suzanne and her portrait now hangs on the walls
of the School of Theatre and Dance to
commemorate her many contributions to
the development of the School.

Suzanne, however, would claim her
greatest successes have occurred off
the stage. Her greatest success is her
students.

“She allowed us to be who we were and
dream even more.”
- Shelly Cummins

“One of Suzanne’s true gifts as a
teacher is seeing not only the dancer,

70 Lubbock Senior Link