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Show OrigiraCcfw J.:x LaVeve Whetten is a woman of stature, both visually and by reputation. She stands straight and tall with the figure and bearing of a model, and she is revered by her family, friends, community . associates and professional colleagues as a person whose opinion matters. During his inauguration in May as the new president of Southern Utah State College, Dr. Gerald Sherratt called Whetten to the stage prior to the premiere perfomance of the Burch Mann American Folk Ballet and introduced her as the person in Cedar City most responsible for the development of dance as the LaVeve Whetten important art form it is in the community. Whetten was the first choreographer fr the Utah Shakespearean Festival, an assignment for which she was admirably qualified. She taught all forms of dance, precision marching, body conditioning and other courses in the SUSC Physical Education Department form 1939 to her retirement in 1974. Her folk dancers, adagio teams and Thunderette marching groups were the main features , of SUSC traveling assemblies for many years, and were important factors in attracting students to the college. Whetten always demanded, and achieved, the epitome in quality from her performing groups. They not only had to dance enthusiastically and correctly, they had to look right. She personally designed and sewed many of the attractive, interesting costumes worn by her dancers and machers, and whether the apparel was constructed by herself or someone else, each ruffle or sequin had to be placed exactly right. No matter that the audience might not notice a bit of fringe not sized to ,. hang precisely three inches from the shoulder, Whetten knew, and adjustments were made until she was satisfied. This lady's students not only dressed properly for performances before audiences, they were provided with individualized pointers on personal dress and grooming, as well as behavior. She taught her students with stern authority, then frolicked with them, mothered them, and always befriended them. She gave advice on matters from love to finances and helped with whatever projects involved her students in an extracurricular ex-tracurricular way. She was sought as an advisor to sororities, clubs and other campus groups and lent her talents to planning, arranging and decorating for special activities, and then attended these events as the best dressed and most regal person present. Through her imagination and expertise, the USF dance troup established a reputation from the first year for authenticity and quality. She made it a particular honor to belong to this troupe and through this participation a number of SUSC's and Cedar City's young dancers gained a performance credit for which they will feel lasting pride. Much of this dynamic woman's time is now spent in service to her church as well as to her family and community. |