Before retiring in February 2005,
during her 32-year tenure at Towson University (TU) in Baltimore,
Maryland, Dr. Helene Breazeale was Professor of Dance and held the
positions of Associate Dean and Executive Director of the World Music
Congresses. She was Chair of the Dance Department for 18 years, and
served as Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication
from 1990-1996. She now has the title of Professor Emeritus, and
continues to make generous contributions to the arts as a consultant.
Working for the Institutional
Advancement Division at TU, she produced the World Cello Congress®
II in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 1-8, 1997; the World Cello
Congress® III, May 28-June 4, 2000 at TU and the Joseph Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Maryland; and The First World Guitar
Congress®, June 2-9, 2004, at TU and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Some of Dr. Breazeale’s achievements as Executive Director of the World Music Congresses include:
-- 1997 World Cello Congress® II in St. Petersburg, Russia: Mstislav Rostropovich, President; 30 countries represented.
-- 2000 World Cello Congress® III
at TU and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore: Janos Starker,
Honorary President; Bernard Greenhouse, Artistic Advisor; Yo-Yo Ma,
Featured Guest Artist; 47 countries represented.
-- 2004 First World Guitar
Congress® at TU and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore: Mrs.
Andrés Segovia, Honorary President; Les Paul, Honorary Chairman;
Jim Hall and Ronaldo Miranda, composers of new concerto commissions; 23 countries represented.
-- Combined number of attendees at the three world music congresses mentioned above: 44,014 students, amateur and professional musicians, music lovers from around the world and the public-at-large.
-- Combined number of musical events: 191
including four world premieres, two commissioned concerti and one
commissioned composition for a 235-member massed cello ensemble -
adding to the library of world music literature for all time.
-- Combined number of guest artists: more than 311 world-renowned musicians, composers, conductors and music educators participated, plus four symphony orchestras.
-- Combined number of exhibitors: 135.
-- Combined number of program advertisers: 135.
-- Combined funds raised: more than $1,000,000.
Dr. Breazeale is the recipient of two
Towson University Merit Awards and the Maryland Council for Dance Award
for Outstanding Service to Dance in the State of Maryland. Her
international work has taken her to over 15 foreign countries including
residencies with the Royal Danish Ballet, and as the originator of the
Towson University/St. Petersburg Conservatory Russian exchange program
in dance and music that began in 1989. At Towson University she founded
the TU Dance Company in 1972, the dance major program in 1976, the
Children’s Dance Division in 1981, TED (Towson Ensemble Dancers) in
1984, and the International Ballet Symposium in 1987.
She had a 19-year professional
performing career including the José Limón Dance Company,
the Broadway revival of "OKLAHOMA," the Celtic Ballet of Scotland,
industrial shows, off-Broadway, summer stock, concert stage and
television. Her 45-year teaching career has included such institutions
as The Juilliard School, Queens College, Peabody Institute, Case
Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. She is the
choreographer of over 20 major works including the TV Emmy Award
winning production, "The Singing Angels Christmas Show." Her
publications include Fine Arts Magazine, Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher
Now, Vestnik, Museums of Russia, and The Baltimore Sun.
Helene Breazeale earned a B.S. degree
in Dance from The Juilliard School in New York, an M.A. degree in Dance
Education from Columbia University in New York, and a Ph.D. in Dance
Education from The Union Graduate School in Ohio.
email: mailto:hbreazeale@msn.com
page created April 4,
2001; updated July 22, 2005; November 13, 2006; July 22, 2007
published by Creations
in Consciousness
webmaster