Susan Taylor Lennon: Lifelong Dancer

A burst of creative energy releases among a crowd as they listen in awe to tales told by a small-framed, heartfelt woman.

Her powerful influence and insightful advice are absorbed not allowing her size or soft- spoken words to undersell her strength.

Susan Taylor Lennon, head of UT’s dance department, is an admired woman of many talents.

Her passion for dance is only one that falling in line along with gardening, reading, traveling, and hiking.

“Being outside connects me with the earth,” Lennon said. “It’s so easy to get swept up in the humanistic and materialistic things in life. Nature reminds me that I’m just a huge web of life on the planet.”

Her love for writing inspired her to write and perform “Telling Secrets: A Moving Memoir” in 2005, a script that spoke of her life at the time.

“I hope to begin writing the second act this summer and eventually perform that as well.” Lennon said.

Lennon’s gift as a shining performer began long before her written memoir.

Lennon started ballet lessons at age 10, two years after her family moved to Florida from her hometown of Urbana, Illinois.

“I was very excited to start, it was a fulfillment of a dream,” Lennon said. “I was very stiff and began to get cast in character roles in shows, like the witch in sleeping beauty. It was a gift to have that opportunity.”

Lennon’s opportunity ended when she decided to quit dancing after the second half of her senior year in high school.

“I thought it was the end of the career for me, I didn’t think I was cut out to be a ballerina,” Lennon said. “I was excited to move on and go to college, I was the first in my family.”

The idea of her career plan took a turn when she immediately started dancing again at Florida State University, where she received her bachelor’s in English education, and her master’s in dance.

“My mentor at FSU really inspired my wonderful marriage between dance and education. I was drawn,” Lennon said. “The joy of working at UT is that it is such a small private school and I have had tremendous opportunity to expand the program.”

Before coming to UT, Lennon worked at Winthrop College in 1972.

She began working part time at UT in 1976 and became head of the program in 1990, the same year that the first dance minor began.

Although she has been able to achieve the great accomplishment of building the dance program to serve so many students, Lennon has hopes for the programs future.

“I would like to see facilities upgraded and grow as well as a performing arts theater and the hiring of a second full time position.” Lennon said.

Not only does she have high hopes for the UT dance department, Lennon aspires to make a difference among others.

“I would like to write and facilitate working to help people get in touch with themselves and their creative potential,” Lennon said. “I would like to do that around the world.”

She hopes to spread her creative possibilities among so many.

“I want to give more confidence and willingness to speak and help the world become a healthier and happier place to live.”