Orchesis History
Orchesis was founded in 1948 by Catherine Jones Williams to accomplish four major
purposes. They were and are:
- To train dancers aesthetically,
- To develop high artistic standards and foster an appreciation of dance as an art form.
- To create a community awareness of modern dance and make it an accessible experience,
and
- To develop an on-going repertoire that educates as it entertains.
The year 1957 found the dance group in great demand for performances at the University
and other institutions in surrounding areas. In response to the demand, performances
were given at “half time” during athletic events. Public appreciation of the group’s
work continued to be encouraging. This success resulted in the use of more intense
study techniques, and performances became a priority for the company. By this time
the modern dance group was working to prove the capabilities of the body as an expressive
instrument by displaying stunning feats of virtuosity.
Fifty years after its founding, the Grambling State University Orchesis Dance Company
has traveled extensively with the Marching Band and performed in many venue, such
as hospitals, high schools, community centers, pageants, theaters, colleges and Universities
throughout the country and is one of the most promising components of Grambling State
University’s extra curriculums.
Mrs. Dianne Maroney-Grigsby succeeded Virgie Brossard Pradia to become the company’s
third Artistic Director. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dianne left home for New York
in 1973. After joining The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, she toured extensively
with that company, and performed with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in Europe, Asia,
and Africa.
In 1983 she left her position with Ailey to become Artistic Director of Orchesis and
full time student at GSU. Mrs Maroney-Grigsby received her Bachelor Degree from GSU
and her masters from Louisiana Tech University in nearby Ruston, Louisiana.
Quick to recognize her considerable talents, Louisiana Tech negotiated a salary sharing
contract, with GSU, to place her on faculty as dance instructor within its School
of Performing Arts.
Dianne’s long association with Carol Anglin’s Louisiana Dance Foundation and its resident
dance company, Louisiana Dance Theatre, led to an appointment to the position of Artistic
Associate, and has won her the prestigious “Silver Leo Award” for her choreography
at the 1994 Jazz Dance World Congress.
In 1995 Dianne received the Living Legend award presented by the Nena Wideman Foundation
of Shreveport, LA.
Orchesis has been an outstanding ambassador for Louisiana while representing the state
at performances in Japan and throughout America, from New York to California and most
recently in Chicago. Dianne’s and other fledgling choreographers work, and Orchesis
Dance Company can be seen on Television Commercials recently filmed for Proctor &
Gamble and on The Cartoon Network. During an April 15, 2000 visit to Grambling State
University by recording artist Vicky Wynans, Orchesis performed Dianne’s choreography
to “Long As I Got King Jesus”. Orchesis along with the GSU Tiger Marching band was
featured in the hit movie “Drumline” and Denzel Washington's "The Great Debaters."
