Doris Marsh
1931 - 2019
In 1957, Doris Marsh, a Saginaw native and lifelong resident, opened the doors of the Doris Marsh School of Classical Ballet in Saginaw Township. In 1971, she formed and served as artistic director/choreographer of Saginaw Valley Dancers company.
Over the years, the company performed at Temple Theater, Dow Event Center, Germania Club (with Germania Symphony Orchestra), Frankenmuth High School, Delta College, Midland Center for the Arts*, Saginaw Valley State University, Fischer Opera Haus, for the Saginaw Eddy Concert* Band, Pit & Balcony, Bay City Friendship Shell, First Congregational Church and more.
Her production of “Peter and the Wolf” was performed by the company more than 80 times in schools and for special events.
For 20 years, the company performed her version of “The Nutcracker Ballet.” Containing upwards of 50 cast members, often entire families; 150 costumes designed and made by Marsh and friends. Generations of ballerinas grew up in the production, transitioning from the smallest roles of mice to lead roles as Sugar Plum Fairies. Productions included guests from the National Ballet of Canada, Minnesota Dance Theater, San Diego Ballet, Ballet British Columbia. Adult parts played by well-known area names. At its zenith were student performances at Temple Theater attracting more then 4,000 students from throughout mid Michigan.
Under three conductors with the Saginaw Symphony, Young Peoples Concerts were performed Sunday afternoons. Marsh collaborated with those conductors and created and choreographed numerous numbers. In addition, she choreographed productions for two years at the Fischer Opera Haus in Frankenmuth.
Among the dozens of dance numbers she created, Marsh's most successful performances included: The Bluebird, Clair de Lune, Quiet City, Five Lyric Pieces, Variations from Swan Lake, Blue Danube, At the Flicks, Picnic on Mount Olympus, American Folktale, Saturday Night at Flossie’s, Rip Van Winkle, All in Fun, Snow Queen, Tales from the Arabian Nights, A Chamber Ballet.
Former students have performed with the Minnesota Dance Theater, the Colorado Ballet, the Norwegian Opera Ballet, and the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
In 1996, Marsh received Saginaw's All Area Arts Award., and continued to write the occasional dance reviews for the Saginaw News.
In 2010 she donated 500+ costumes to Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, as well as props. Also in 2010, she established Saginaw Valley Dancers Endowed Fund to promote dance projects (master classes, workshops, residencies, performances). Seeded with $35,000.