Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Cathy Dark developed an interest in dance after being introduced to square-dancing in her 6th grade P.E. class. Dark continued to cultivate this interest throughout her high school years when she became involved in a local folk and ballroom performance troupe known as the Silver Spurs. In college, Dark studied home economics at Central Washington University and graduated there in 1975. Yet, Dark's passion for dance compelled her to pursue a second undergraduate degree specifically in dance, this time earned from the University of Oregon in 1977.
Before pursuing graduate studies, Dark worked with a number of different organizations as a dance instructor in Spokane, Chicago, and Japan. Through these positions, Dark gained experience serving as a tour manager and artistic director, developing skills that would serve her well later directing the "Cool Shoes" dance troupe. In 1984, Dark enrolled in the Laban Centre For Movement and Dance at the University of London in England. Her master's thesis, awarded in 1988, focused on the social and cultural context of a Romanian folk dance.
In 1990, Dark began her career at Oregon State University as an instructor in dance for the College of Health and Human Performance. For her instructional courseload, Dark specialized in teaching physical activity course (PAC) classes in ballroom and country western dance. She also taught courses in step aerobics as well as an introductory level class on dance fundamentals.
Dark's most notable instructional legacy at OSU was the development of a ballroom dance performance course (PAC 169) that required those enrolled in it to study and practice a particular style of dance to be later presented in choreographed public performances on campus and elsewhere. For the staging of these performances, Dark formed the "Cool Shoes" ballroom dance troupe to publicize these shows and highlight the talents of the student dancers. Each term of the PAC 169 course, Dark guided the students in the learning of one ballroom dance style which included a range as diverse as the West Coast Swing (Spring 1998), the Slow Tango (Fall 1996), Disco (Spring 2000), and the Waltz (Winter 1997).
Dark organized an annual spring performance showcasing the moves practiced by the ballroom dance troupe each year billed as the "Cool Shoes and Friends" event. In addition to these campus shows, Dark staged Cool Shoes performances outside of Corvallis at least once a year, traveling mostly within the Pacific Northwest to spots such as Seattle and Portland. In 2013 and 2016, Cool Shoes performed shows at Disneyland in California.
Along with her instructional activity, Dark was also active in research and writing. She co-authored several textbooks on social dance and frequently presented conference papers at meetings of the American Alliance For Health Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD). In 1996, Dark was recognized by AAHPERD with its "Dance Educator of the Year" award.
In 2019, Cathy Dark retired from OSU and returned to her hometown of Spokane.
These materials were donated to the Special Collections and Archives Reserach Center in 2019 and 2020 by Cathy Dark.
This collection is open for research.
Cathy Dark Papers (MSS Dark), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Other collections documenting dance instruction at Oregon State University include the papers of faculty
This collection is comprised of nine series: 1. Biographical Materials, 1990-2016; 2. Course Materials, 1991-2017; 3. Cool Shoes, 1991-2018; 4. Ballroom Dance Club, 1991-2019; 5. International Dance Club, 1992-1993; 6. Publications, 1952-2009; 7. Scrapbooks, 1996-2014; 8. Plaques, 1996-2016; and 9. Display Panels, 1999-2018.
The Cathy Dark Papers consist of materials generated and collected by Oregon State University professor Cathy Dark that document her instruction of dance coursework and coordination of the OSU Ballroom Dance Club and Cool Shoes dance performance group. This collection contains photographs, event programs, posters, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, plaques, publications, correspondence, course materials, and display panels showcasing students involved in the Cool Shoes troupe.
The photographs that make up the bulk of the content in the scrapbooks and on the display panels primarily reflect the activities and members of the Cool Shoes dance group. These images include posed portrait and group shots of the members as well as informal views taken of the group during tours and rehearsals. Posters, flyers, event programs, and newspaper clippings also document performances staged by the Cool Shoes troupe. There are flyers that also relate to dance workshops and other events that Dark organized as the advisor for the OSU Ballroom Dance Club.
The course materials reflecting Dark's work as an instructor include syllabi, class outlines, blank exams, and course assignments. Among the biographical materials, there is a promotion dossier packet which contains an extensive description of Dark's teaching career at OSU up to 2000.
Among the publications, Dark's research writing is reflected in college-level dance textbooks that she co-authored with faculty from other universities. The publications also document dance instruction at OSU pre-dating Dark's arrival in 1990. These items consists of programs for campus dance events from 1952 to 1976 and an undergraduate honors thesis on the "History of Social Dance at OSU" by David Weymann.
Series 1 contains materials relating to Dark's teaching career, honoraries received, participation in conference presentations, and a research project proposed by her. In addition to a promotion dossier packet of information prepared by Dark for her tenure review, this series is made up of conference programs, correspondence, a curriculum vita, a research proposal, photographs, a newspaper clipping, and certificates.
Series 2 documents the instruction of dance coursework and curriculum development assessment. Along with course outlines, exam blanks, and an instructors' training manual that reflect the teaching of dance classes, this series includes correspondence, meeting minutes, notes, and statistical information collected by Dark through involvement on a Physical Activity Course curriculum planning committee.
Series 3 documents the Cool Shoes ballroom dance performance group that was formed and coordinated by Dark. In addition to event programs, flyers, posters, and tickets reflecting the regular public performances staged by Cool Shoes, this series also contains correspondence, Cool Shoes member lists, newspaper clippings, photographs, thank you notes, and course outlines. Along with 44 photographic prints, this series also includes a publication resembling a small photo album that contains images of the Cool Shoes' members for the 2014-2015 year. There are a few references to "BARC" among these materials, which was the name of the ballroom dance group before its change to Cool Shoes. Documentation of Cool Shoes' performances and members are also reflected in the scrapbooks in series 7 and the display panels in series 9.
Images taken by an OSU student of the rehearsal and performance by Cool Shoes at the Sesame Dance Club on November 19th, 1998 at the Norse Hall in Portland, Oregon. 13 prints. A newspaper article about the show is included with the photos.
Series 4 relates to the Ballroom Dance Club and reflects Dark's coordination of this student group as its faculty advisor. Primarily documenting the organization of dance workshops and classes for the club, the materials in the series include correspondence, contracts, course offering lists, event programs, flyers, meeting agendas, membership registration forms, newsletters, newspaper clippings, a photograph, and posters.
These posters publicize campus performances by visiting dance troupes, the OSU International Dance Club, and ballroom dance courses offered by the PAC program. Among the posters are two large thank you cards presented to Cathy Dark from her students.
Series 5 consists of documentation about the International Dance Club and is made up of correspondence, financial records, flyers, a newsletter, and newspaper announcements about events organized by the club. The correspondence includes a message string about the waning interest in international folk dancing among college students at the time and the future of the group. Among the events publicized in these materials is a workshop conducted by former OSU dance instructor Kathleen Kerr.
Series 6 is comprised of publications that include three textbooks co-authored by Dark, programs for OSU dance events, and a senior thesis on the history of social dance at OSU.
These programs document the following three dance events: "Irish Folkdances" by the Promenaders Club (1952), a Callers Clinic lead by Dance Professor Erma Weir (ca. 1955), and the 1976 All-Dance Folk Dance Festival.
Undergraduate honors thesis, David Weymann.
Textbook co-authored by Cathy Dark, along with Jane Harris, Anne Pittman, and Marlys Waller.
Textbook co-authored by Cathy Dark, along with Ann Pittman, Marlys Waller.
Textbook co-authored by Cathy Dark, along with Marlys Waller, and Anne Pittman.
Series 7 is made up of scrapbooks documenting performances and rehearsals by the Cool Shoes Dance Company. Primarily consisting of photographs, the four scrapbooks also contain programs, tickets, member lists, and newspaper clippings. This series contains a total of 447 photographic prints.
Series 8 consists of plaques documenting honors and recognition received by Dark and the Cool Shoes dance company.
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) - Northwest District Association.
Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Resort.
The National Folk Organization of the U.S.A.
Series 9 is comprised of display panels assembled by Dark to document members of the Cool Shoes dance troupe. These panels are primarily made up of posed portrait shots of the members with information on their names and field of studys. Loose images that became detached from the displays have been placed into a file folder that resides in box 1. There are 222 photographic prints in this series in total.
Panels documenting the following three years of the Cool Shoes performance dance group: 1999, 2000/2001, and 2001/2002.
A panel documenting the Cool Shoes group for the 2002/2003 academic year.
Panels documenting the following four years of Cool Shoes performance group members: 2003/2004; 2004/2005; 2005/2006; and 2006/2007.
Panels document members of the Cool Shoes performance group: 2007/2008; 2008/2009; and 2009/2010.
Panels document members of the Cool Shoes performance group for the following years: 2011/2012; 2012/2013; and 2013/2014.
Panels document members of the Cool Shoes performance group for the following years: 2015/2016; 2016/2017; and 2017/2018.
4 photograph prints.