Wally Dashiell dances into the hammer throw record books
Wally and her successor as director of Dashiell School of Dancing in Stevensville, Maryland.
Here’s a great 2009 profile of Wally:
When classes started in September 2008, it marked the beginning of the 60th year of teaching for Wally Dashiell and the Dashiell School of Dancing. During the past 60 years, Dashiell has taught thousands of students, ages 3 to 18.
Dashiell teaches all types of dancing, but she said, “Ballet is the foundation of all dancing. Every dancer, no matter what kind of dancing they perform, should have a background of ballet.”
Many students have danced with Dashiell from preschool right up to high school. Several former students have gone on to become dance teachers themselves, like Liz Williamson, dancer and teacher at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Some have made careers in performance. Robin Baxter is an actress and dancer in New York City; she has performed in several Broadway shows.
Rachael Hummel-Nole is principal dancer with the Nevada Ballet in Las Vegas. Many former students have danced with regional and college dance companies, also. Alyssa Helfenbein was a Ravens cheerleader for two seasons, which required strong dance technique.
As a teacher, Dashiell stresses correct technique and discipline along with the joy of dance. Her training has enabled many of her students to pass auditions to perform in “The Nutcracker” with Joffrey Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the Chesapeake Ballet and the Eastern Shore Ballet in Salisbury. Students have received scholarships from the Maryland Council for Dance to study with studios in New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Pennsylvania.
A former Dashiell student, Amy Tedford, is now on the studio’s faculty. Tedford received four consecutive scholarships to Teacher’s Training School at the University of Buffalo from Dance Masters of America, a leading dance organization for dance teachers. She graduated from the program after passing what Dashiell called “very demanding examinations.”
Tedford is certified through Dance Masters of America to teach ballet, tap, jazz and Pointe. Her innovative routines are liked by her students, Dashiell said. Tedford also teaches English at Kent Island High School and is director and coach of the school’s dance team.
Dashiell opened her dance school in Cambridge in 1948. Over the years, she has had studios in Easton, St. Michaels and Hurlock. In 1963, the school moved to Kent Island, operating at first out of the yacht club. The school soon moved to its present location on Love Point Road in Stevensville, where Dashiell also makes her home.
Dashiell came to Maryland’s Eastern Shore from Germany in 1947 after her marriage to U.S. Army Sgt. George Dashiell, a Cambridge native. Born Waltrud Hieber in Heidelberg in 1922, Dashiell danced as a child and teenager.
“My parents didn’t approve of it, but I took dancing on the side,” said Dashiell, who went on to tour with an operetta throughout Europe and performed “all types of dancing.”
She acquired the name “Wally” when she danced at U.S.O. Clubs in Germany.
“The American soldiers would ask me what my name was. I told them Waltrud, and they would say ‘What?’ After about the third time this happened, I changed it to Wally and have used the name ever since,” Dashiell said.
When she first came to America, Dashiell said the language was still a bit of a problem. She had studied English in school. “I was taught ‘English English,'” she said. “I still had to learn all the American expressions. But I had a wonderful husband to help me.”
Dashiell is a longtime member and past president of Dance Masters of America. She stressed the importance of ongoing training.
“Dancing changes so much. You need to continue training or you can’t keep up. I’ve studied in just about every big studio in New York,” she said.
Dashiell actively promotes physical fitness and community service. Every year she arranges performances of her students for local nursing homes, senior centers and the community. A breast cancer survivor, she regularly participates in the local Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She also participates in area MS Walks and the local Heart Walk.
A track and field athlete, Dashiell has won more than 100 gold medals in the Senior Olympic Games. In 1996, she was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch on one leg of the relay between Baltimore and Annapolis. In 2006, she was one of more than 40 senior athletes featured in the inspirational book, “Soaring Spirits, The Quest for Vitality & Victory.”
Dashiell is active with the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce, where she serves on the business and education committee. She was named the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year in both 1997 and 2004 and Top Membership Ambassador in 1999. She received the chamber’s Business Leadership Award in 2000.
She is a member of the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Maryland Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. She was honored by the Maryland Council for Dance for outstanding service in 1998.
Dashiell and Tedford are working on a special anniversary production of “Coppelia,” which will include all types of dance.
Ballet students will get to perform in character dances in addition to the beauty of ballet, Dashiell said.
Nice write-up. Here’s one about her 2013 retirement.
And if you’ve read this far, bless you!
I’m proud to announce that Friday’s post on American medalists at worlds was my 5,000th on this blog — which started in January 2003.
I continue to be amazed by y’all. It’s my pleasure to share your stories with the world.
On to 10,000!
You’ve helped me reach 5,000 blog posts and nearly 28,000 comments. Thanks!
One Response
STEVENSVILLE — Dance has been the passion of Wally Dashiell’s life. Dashiell has received numerous honors from the local business community as well as national and regional dance organizations for her pursuit of excellence.
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