Mary Rose Bushroe
Tap Dance and Pre Ballet teacher
Mary Rose Bushroe studied in the Dance Department at Marygrove College, under the direction of renowned ballet master and choreographer Iacob Lascu. Studies included various Modern techniques including Graham, and also Tap and Jazz. She also trained intensively in Ethnic Dance, Gymnastics, and Competitive Baton. While in Detroit she performed as a dancer with the Pistons, and with several local dance companies.
In New York Mary Rose was the Director of the Children’s Program at Jon Devlin’s schools, ran a training class for the New York Cosmos soccer team, performed with Jane Fonda, and a on a cable TV exercise program. In Columbus, she studied with John Barker, internationally-renowned author of The School of Classical Dance. She taught for many Columbus Public Schools, including Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, and several private Dance schools.
In the late eighties, Mary Rose founded Dance Reach, which became a thriving Dance Arts complex with more than 1400 students. Her students have won countless National level awards, and gone on to become Rockettes, graduate from Julliard, earn positions with major Ballet companies, Broadway show casts, and become choreographers, instructors for and owners of Dance schools throughout the country.
Mary Rose’s other accomplishments include participating in the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, a Master Tap Symposium featuring Diane Walker, Lane Alexander, Lloyd Storey, and Sam Weber. She was a lead instructor for Neoteric Dance Theatre, a program for at-risk children created by Jacques d'Amboise, and was invited to perform a Rhythm Tap solo for a benefit at the King Arts Complex.
Mary Rose met Shir Lee Wu while they were co-directors of Columbus Dance Ensemble, and is thrilled to be a contributor at Columbus City Ballet.