So many of us our heartbroken this week by the death of our brilliant friend, dancer, teacher, and mentor, Mary Cochran. Mary grew up in Dallas, Texas where she began her dance training with her mother, Jerry Bywaters Cochran, a former dancer herself who studied in the 1950’s at Julliard with modern dance greats, Martha Graham and José Limon. After graduating high school from The University of North Carolina School of The Arts, Mary moved to New York to follow in her mother’s footsteps and attend Julliard. She was there only 2 days when The Nikolais Dance Theatre hired her and 2 years later she joined The Paul Taylor Dance Company. In 1996 she left Paul Taylor and began a career as a teacher. In 2008 she performed works by Sara Hook with David Parker at the Harvard Dance Center. She was Chair and Artistic Director of the Dance Department at Barnard College Columbia University from 2003-2013.

Mary, a force to be reckoned with, may your light shine bright as you dance among the angels.

“Kismet.  Fate.  Doors open.  Sometimes the secret garden is right there.  Sometimes you have to open a few more doors.  Sometimes the first 37 doors blow open, hit you in the face, and break your nose every single time until you get to number 38, the one with the damned secret garden!”  Mary Cochran

Mary Cochran, Dancer Who ‘Lit Up the Stage,’ Dies at 54 – New York Times 10/17/2017

Taylor’s “Nightshade” Photo Jack Mitchell

“Rue” Sara Hook Dances

Queen Elizabeth II and Mary Cochran

Mary Cochran, Dancer Who ‘Lit Up the Stage,’ Dies at 54, New York Times, October 15, 2017