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Ms. Osborne began her formal dance
training at age seven in Southern California as a student of the
Cecchetti style of Ballet. As a child, she performed for the
Whittier Civic Ballet in productions of “The Nutcracker” and in
several roles for David Lichine in his “Graduation Ball.” She
“discovered” Modern Dance as a freshman at UCLA where she studied
with Al Huang, Carol Scothorn and Mary Anthony. In her senior year,
she toured with the UCLA Dance Company as a dancer in “Arena for
One,” choreographed by Valerie Bettis. Working under the direction
of Eugene Loring in the UCI Masters Dance Program, Robin brought
her background of Ballet and Modern together while honing her skills
as a teacher and choreographer. Upon completion of her MFA, she
moved to NYC to dance with the Valerie Bettis Dance Theatre. Her
love for teaching led her to numerous positions as an instructor and
professor in dance. On the East Coast, she has taught at Ocean
County College, Nassau Community College, the College of Staten
Island, Kingsborough College, F.I.T., The Borough of Manhattan
College, Queensborough College and Queens College. She is currently
on the campuses of Queensborough and Queens College. Her teaching
curriculum has included: Aerobic Dance, Folk Dance, Dance
Composition, Yoga, Musical Theatre Dance, Modern Dance, Jazz, Ballet
and Dance History.
The recipient of awards from the
“CUNY Women’s Research and Development Fund” allowed her to produce
herself and several other women choreographers at St. Clements
Church, NYC (Off-off Broadway). A second grant funded a
challenging and personally satisfying project: the reconstruction
of the dance drama, “As I Lay Dying,” originally choreographed by
her mentor, Valerie Bettis. Ms. Osborne also performed the leading
role of Addie Bundren. Another ground breaking role by Ms. Bettis,
a solo called “The Desperate Heart” was reconstructed and performed
by Ms. Osborne at Kingsborough and Queens Colleges.
Ms. Osborne has been teaching at The
Brooklyn Music School since 1984. When she first arrived at BMS,
only Ballet was taught with a faculty of two, on Thursday afternoons
and Saturdays. In 1989, the position of Chairperson was created for
her while the Dance Department continued to grow. Today, there are
classes in several techniques, with a faculty of eight, teaching
classes six days a week. Under her direction, a pre-professional
division was created in 1999. The original group, “The Journey
Dancers,” has multiplied into several performing groups who can be
seen on the BMS stage during the year and in other performance
venues throughout the Tri State area. She is the creator and
Artistic Director of “A Brooklyn Nutcracker” which just finished its
6th season. Another innovation of hers were BMS Faculty
Concerts called “Premiere” and “Encore”. These fundraising
performance (1994 through 1997) produced original works that were
inspired by the collaborative talents of the BMS Music and Dance
faculties.
Ms. Osborne just hopes her next
twenty years at BMS are as rewarding and interesting as her first
twenty!