Shirley Ririe: Utah’s Dance Pioneer Who Moved Generations

Shirley Ririe, co-founder of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and a driving force in shaping Utah’s cultural identity, passed away on August 17, 2025, at the age of 96. Her influence on modern dance—and on the countless lives she touched through teaching—remains immeasurable.

For more than three decades, Ririe and her longtime collaborator Joan Woodbury built a company that not only put Utah on the international dance map but also established a model for how contemporary dance could thrive outside major metropolitan centers. Founded in 1964, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company became a beacon for creativity, attracting dancers from across the globe and inspiring audiences with work that was bold, challenging, and deeply human.

Yet, as many who knew her will attest, it was Ririe’s spirit that made her extraordinary. “As I have always said, you sense your livingness when you dance and when you teach,” she once remarked. That philosophy carried into every rehearsal, every classroom, and every performance. She especially cherished teaching children, believing that movement could unlock self-expression and self-worth. Colleagues often described her as one of the finest children’s dance educators in the country.

Born into a family of actors, Ririe discovered dance at the University of Utah under the guidance of legendary teacher Betty Hayes, who immediately recognized her potential. After earning her master’s in New York, a call from Brigham Young University drew her back to Utah, where she and Woodbury forged a creative partnership that would span decades. “We both believe in the creative process,” Woodbury reflected. “We both believe that everyone is creative and that given the right environment, that creativity can be encouraged and developed.”

The early years were far from easy. “When we started this company we had no role models,” Woodbury recalled. “Nobody. Because there wasn’t such a company.” But Ririe’s relentless energy propelled them forward. She believed that contemporary art forms, and modern dance in particular, were among the most demanding—and the most essential. Her conviction laid the groundwork for a company that broke barriers and set new standards.

Beyond the stage, Ririe was a tireless advocate for the arts, meeting with educators, community leaders, and sponsors to argue for dance’s role in shaping culture. Former student and company dancer Phyliss Haskell, now Vice President of Fine Arts at the University of Utah, credited her with “putting this place on the map” through both artistry and advocacy.

Her teaching left deep personal imprints. She loved recalling the story of a troubled boy whose life changed after he danced in one of her classes. “It gave him a sense of self-esteem and a feeling that he was worth something,” Ririe said. Stories like his became proof of her lifelong belief that dance could transform lives.

Ririe’s career brought accolades, awards, and even an honorary doctorate. But those who knew her best remember her vitality: the woman who never tired, who was ready to dance again after curtain call, who was as passionate about shopping with her colleagues as she was about performing. “Can you imagine being married to that much energy all your life?” her husband Rhees once joked. Together, the couple raised four daughters and thirteen grandchildren, balancing her demanding career with a home full of love and laughter.

At heart, Ririe considered herself a pioneer. “Being a dancer is real pioneer stuff,” she once said, reflecting on the path she forged where no models existed. What she built endures—not only in the continuing legacy of Ririe-Woodbury but in the countless students, dancers, and communities she inspired.

“In every instance, the people we bring to dance begin to love it,” she said. “And that’s the payoff. It makes everything you do meaningful and important.”

Shirley Ririe’s life was exactly that: meaningful, important, and beautifully lived—through dance.

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