Mary Robare

Position:

Adjunct Auxiliary Associate Professor, Dance

Pronouns:

She/Her

Location:

Shingleton Hall, Room 30

Email: mrobare@josephmillerdds.com

Employed Since:

1990

Teaching Area(s):

Ballet
Musical Theatre Styles
Techniques for Teaching Dance

Educational History:

B.A., West Virginia University

Professional Highlights:

Mary Robare is a dance teacher, director, choreographer and former Broadway performer. A graduate of the famed LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City, she performed on Broadway in “Little Me,” “On Your Toes,” “Wind in the Willows” and “Singin’ in the Rain;” in national tours of “A Chorus Line,” “On Your Toes” and “Nunsense,” (reprising the role she originated in the first full-length production); in the MGM movie, “Those Lips, Those Eyes;” as a soloist with the Garden State Ballet, and in numerous concert dance performances, industrial shows and television commercials. She worked as Randolyn Zinn’s assistant choreographer on Broadway and at the New York City Opera, and served as a dancer, dance captain and assistant to the legendary Agnes de Mille during pre-production of her ballet, “The Informer,” which American Ballet Theatre produced at the Metropolitan Opera House.

At Shenandoah University (SU), she recently directed and staged an adaptation of Michael Bennett’s original Broadway production, “A Chorus Line.” Other Shenandoah Conservatory choreography credits include “Into the Woods,” “The Apple Tree,” “1776,” “Urinetown,” “Most Happy Fella,’” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “A Chorus Line” (co-directed with Jonathan Flom), “She Loves Me,” “On the Town,” “Good News,” “Pippin,” “The Mikado,” “Take it Easy,” “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” “Playground,” “Children of Eden” and “HMS Pinafore,” and Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre productions “Sweet Charity,” “Chicago,” “Gigi,” “Oliver!,” “Damn Yankees,” “110 in the Shade,” (and again), “A Chorus Line.”

Since moving to Virginia, Robare has been a dance instructor and performing ensemble director for youth at Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy (SCAA). For several years, she also choreographed John Handley High School’s show choir program for their renowned Apple Blossom Festival program, and she’s choreographed dozens of middle and high school productions.

A popular guest teacher and choreographer, most recently Robare enjoyed teaching summer classes for Valley Dance Theatre in Staunton, Virginia, which is owned by SU alumna and former faculty member, Kimberly Field. In 2023 and 2024 she directed and choreographed full-length summer productions of, “The Addams Family,” and “Legally Blonde,” which were produced by N. Thomas Pedersen for the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Virginia. She is recipient of an Outstanding Educator Citation from the Governor’s School of Virginia.

Personal Quote:
I am continuously inspired and refreshed by the talent, discipline and enthusiasm displayed by the students at Shenandoah University!