Dayton, Ohio

1999 Honor Dancer Carolyn Stovall

Carolyn Stovall became a member of the Miami Valley Folk Dancers in 1961, bringing to the group an already impressive background in folk dancing. Her interest in dance actually began as a child and continued through her college years at Transylvania University, where she danced with the Transylvania Folk Dancers and attended workshops at Berea College. This experience would serve her well over the next 38 years as she became an active contributing member of the Miami Valley Folk Dancers.

By the late 1970s Carolyn had assumed a leadership role within the group, serving as Vice-Chair of the MVFD Council in 1978, and Chair in 1979. Carolyn also organized a Scottish workshop with C. Stewart Smith in 1978, and an English workshop with Sybil Clark in 1979. In 1980 Carolyn served as the MVFD representative to the Michael Solomon Pavilion Support Committee. In 1983 Carolyn chaired the Owen and Thompson English Workshop, and also served on the Program Committee.

Carolyn's interest in dance has extended beyond the Miami Valley Folk Dancers. As a physical education teacher, Carolyn Stovall taught folk dancing, as part of her curriculuum, to all of her students. For eight years she also directed an extra-curricular dance group that each year gave an evening dance performance for the school community. A select group of these students performed at Court House Square and World A' Fair. For many years Carolyn was a member of the Zivio Dancers of the Yugoslav Club of Dayton, performing locally with the group, and traveling with the group to Yugoslavia in 1987. Her avid interest in folk dancing has, in fact, taken her to workshops from Maine to Macedonia.

More recently, Carolyn organized the Scottish Workshop with Vickie Goodloe in 1991. She served as the MVFD Council secretary in 1992, 1993, and 1994, and organized a Romanian workshop with Nicolaas Hilferink in 1994. In 1995 she served on the Council as Member at Large. During 1995, 1996 and 1997 Carolyn became the MVFD representative to the Miami Valley Dance Council, and was responsible for alerting area dancers to the threat to the Pavilion that occurred with the proposed improvements to the Community Golf Course.

Since 1997 Carolyn Stovall has assumed responsibility for the MVFD orientation class each Thursday evening from 7:00 till 8:00. In this role Carolyn has provided the group with many hours of dance instruction. For the past two years Carolyn Stovall has also served as the secretary of the Miami Valley Dance Council.

Carolyn's leadership within the group is well documented. Her contributions of time and talent have been significant. And her enthusiasm for folk dancing has been much appreciated by all members of MVFD. Carolyn Stovall deserves to be recognized as the 1999 Honor Nominee.

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