Dixie L. Durr, Ph.D., of Lansing, MI, passed away Sunday Sept. 2, 2007 at her home. She was born July 11, 1940 in Allen County near Ossian.
Professor Durr began her career as Professor of Dance in the Department of Kinesiology (formerly the Department of Physical Education). In the early 1980s she was transferred to the department of Theatre where she was Artistic Director of the MSU Repertory Dance Company. She chaired the Department of Theater from 1994-2001. After a forty one year career at Michigan State University, Professor Durr retired in 2005.
Her Ph.D. in Arts Education was earned at The Ohio State University; one MA from New York University, in the Anthropology of Human Movement, another MA from Michigan State University in Theatre, and an undergraduate degree in Dance from Butler University. She was also a Certified teacher of Labanotation and received her Advanced Certification in Labanotation.
Throughout her career, she served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Dance Association (President), the Congress on Research in Dance (Chair of the Awards Committee), the American Dance Guild, the educational committee of the Dance Notation Bureau, and the Faculty Professional Womens Association (President).
She was the recipient of the Paul Varg Alumni Award for Faculty presented by the MSU College of Arts and Letters alumni association. She was recognized by the College of Education in 2006 with a Chrystal Apple award. Throughout her many years of choreographing and directing plays and musicals, she received several Thespie Awards from Lansing State Journal for outstanding choreography and/or directing.
She is survived by her mother, Maxine E. Durr. She was preceded in death by her father, Marvin (Jack) Durr. Her grandparents included maternal grandparents Homer F. and Verna (Woods) Krauter and paternal grandparents Oliver H. and Cora (Brown) Durr.
Funeral services will be held Thursday 11 a.m. with calling one hour prior at Covington Memorial Funeral Home 8408 Covington Rd. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Calling also Wednesday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service in East Lansing will be at a later date. Entombment in Covington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dixie Durr Dance Scholarship fund at Michigan State University or River Terrace Church in East Lansing Michigan.