Mary Elizabeth Lenahan Day
May 24, 2009 was proclaimed Mary Elizabeth Lenahan Day by Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson to honor her as a leader in integrating people of all abilities in the joy of dance.
Accolades
Fort Collins Mayor's Award
2007 Dance Express was nominated for the Fort Collins Mayor’s Awards for its excellence and awarded Service Provider of the Year in 2017.
Hal O'Leary Inspiration Award
2011 Tamara Mahler was awarded the Hal O'Leary Inspiration Award at Coors Stadium in Denver, Colorado.
Biz West Non-Profit Of The Year
2022 Dance Express was named Biz West's Non-Profit Of The Year!
Mary Elizabeth Lenahan, MS, OT
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director
While completing her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Fort Collins' Colorado State University in February, 1989, Mary Elizabeth founded Dance Express. She aligned with CSU Dance Department Head Jane Slusarski-Harris and Recreational Therapist Mark Rosoff to create and audition the original Dance Express troupe. With a work-study job, Lenahan moved ahead to establish the inclusive dance company as a 501(c)(3) non-profti. Thanks to her sister, Theresa, born with Down syndrome, Mary Elizabeth recognized the talents, dance capabilities, and innate rhythmical aptitude of persons with Down syndrome. In 1992, Dance Express achieved incorporation in Colorado and federal 501(c)(3) status with a non-profit board of directors.
As the Artistic and Executive Director of Dance Express, Mary Elizabeth works with the Board of Directors, dancers, community volunteers, and fellow artists to responsibly produce annual dance and dance theatre productions; adaptive dance workshops in schools and community centers; and an annual regional inclusive dance convening since 2017. Dance Express enjoys working with area arts and education groups, making guest appearances, and augmenting access to the arts for persons with differing abilities, such as Down syndrome, autism, or developmental delay.
Named a Northern Colorado Woman of Distinction in 2015 and an honoree for the Northern Colorado Community Ordinary Extraordinary People Award in 2019, she notes “Each of us has a dancer waiting to share the light.” In 2021, Lenahan became a certified Colorado Creative Change Leader. In 2022 and 2023, she represented Dance Express in the United Way Equity and Excellence cohort. She holds the DREAM of establishing an expressive and healing arts center as a cultural hub. To build inclusive dance, she uses her experiences as an occupational therapist, modern dancer, and eurythmist founded from the State University of New York at Albany (BA), Colorado State University (MS), Sound Circle Eurythmy, and dance companies regionally, nationally, and internationally. Her dance is influenced by Maud Baum of Electronic Body Works, Albany, NY; Paul Sanasardo and Manuel Alum, NY, NY; Adrienne Posner, Albany, NY; Dixie Hayes Menzer & Debbi Gomes, Fort Collins, CO; Jane Slusarski-Harris and guest instructors from Cleo Parker Robinson, Colorado State University; Jana Meszaros with DanceAbility International, Portland, OR; and Tailfeather Dance UK.
FYI: Her love of dance started as a child at Sunday afternoon polka hops!