‘Original architect’ of WWU dance, Nolan Dennett built a legacy of expression and inspiration
The man who died June 6 in Bellingham after an apparent domestic violence homicide in his home left a profound legacy at Western Washington University, where he worked for more than three decades.
Nolan Dennett, 74, of Bellingham, worked as a professor in the College of Fine and Performing Arts at the University for 32 years.
“We were saddened to hear of the death of former faculty member, Nolan Dennett,” WWU Director of Communications Jonathan Higgins said in a statement to The Bellingham Herald. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to Nolan’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Dennett first began working at WWU in 1989 as a movement specialist in the Theater Department and then as Director of the Dance Program, according to the university. He choreographed more than 30 major ballets as well as directed and collaborated on many other theatrical works.
Testimonies from Dennett’s former students can be found dating back to 2005 on the website Rate My Professors, where students can publically rate their professor in a university class and leave explanations about their experiences.
“A blast. He makes even the most clumsy inept person in the world feel like they can walk on the clouds,” one student wrote of Dennett on Rate My Professor.
“An excellent class and an inspirational teacher. His personal experiences with historic dance artists were fascinating to hear about. Thank you for a wonderful class. Take it if you get the chance,” wrote another student.
“A terrific class. A terrific teacher. Introduced me to a whole new art form and made it accessible and intriguing,” another student wrote of Dennett. “Loved that we got to move and write and talk about art. What could be better?”
Dennett retired from WWU in 2021. In a congratulatory retirement announcement published by the university, he was credited as being the “original architect of the dance program at Western.”
The university said Dennett built a team of “internationally-acclaimed dance artists to teach, perform, choreograph and be in residence at Western.”
“We are indebted to Nolan for his dedication to dance, and his invaluable contribution to creating Dance at Western,” the retirement announcement stated.
Those artists included Sylvain Lafortune from the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company; Kathy Casey, artistic director of Montréal Danse; Susan Marshall; Alan Good from the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; and Kraig Patterson and Penny Hutchinson from the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Dennett also created new works for international tour groups, including the National Ballet of Peru, Ririe/Woodbury Dance Company, and the Idaho Theater for Youth, according to the retirement announcement.
Dennett was a Fulbright Scholar and appeared as a dancer in the works of Louis Falco, Jennifer Muller, Lucas Hoving, Bill Evans, Alice Condodina (Limon) Della Davidson, and Anna Sokolow. He also authored many short stories and articles, and published the critically acclaimed novel “Place of Shelter.”
Dennett served the terms on the National Board of Directors of the American College Dance Festival Association.
