Ursula Gray Obituary

Ten years ago, on reminiscing about haiku we once used in Ursula's classes, "since my house burned down -- I now have a better view -- of the rising moon" I wrote, "Yes, I feel as if my house has burned down, but a moon has risen. To my surprise, it has a new face with a warm and generous smile and brilliant blue eyes".
For me, that moon has stayed full and beams her light to me every day. Maybe one of the greatest gifts I received from Ursula's classes was gained from those improvisations, that involved using peripheral vision. A comprehensive view, able to see all the possibilities. That has benefited my life so very much.
Another piece of advice she gave me a young professional dancer to "make it my own." I hope that we all can strive to take our life experiences and blend that with the knowledge we have gained to become as authentic a person as we can be, and pass this philosophy on. Ursula accomplished this so beautifully, and in sharing it with us has impacted our lives forever.
My love goes out to Ursula's daughters, Lisa and Sherry, their families, and all of who those who Ursula touched.

Ursula Gray was a wonderful dancer, teacher and a beautiful person. My mother and I both took dance classes together from her more than 50 years ago. Ursula was incredibly energetic and charismatic. She took her time to work with everyone, whether they were elegant and poised or whether they had two left feet. I remember the many dance performances, each with it's own theme. Ursula will be missed by many.

As a freshman at the Colorado College, I received a book called The Modern Dance from Ursula, after she saw me dance the small part of Louise in a performance of Carousel in 1974. Receiving that book meant so much to me then and affected the path of my life. Thank you, Ursula.

I was visiting with a life-time friend of mine at a gathering of other life-time friends in December. I reminded her of dance classes we took together at CC when we were children-about 50 years ago. I believe Steven must have been in our class (as it WAS VERY unusual to have a boy in one of these classes) and recall what fun we had learning how to be "popcorn," and performing an improvisational dance where we were all in a park playing baseball. Our costumes were made of pastel gingham (different colors for each girl) and of course Steven was the star-not just because he was the only boy, but because he was very talented. Reading his entry and hearing him talk about his experiences confirms, to me, that he is the boy in our class...wonder if he remembers???
...a very special time in my life and equally special memories. I've often wondered what happened to her and wish I had made an effort to find out before now. Mrs. Gray definitely had a gift and talent for inspiring and teaching. Those of us fortunate enough to have been her students were truly blessed! Thank you Mrs. Gray, for such a fun beginning!

Can one ever know what event will change the course of their life? Sometimes the most mundane activities, like enrolling in a class that a friend wanted to take and you just wanted to “tag along” to be with the friend, is that turning point. Fifty years ago my friend Donna wanted to take the Children’s Creative Dance classes at Colorado College.

I can remember as if it were yesterday the registration tables set up in Cossitt Hall, that vaulting space with the spectacular view of Pikes Peak, and Ursula sitting at the end of the table. She was a bit surprised that a boy wanted to dance but there was a warm and generous smile on her face and in her brilliant blue eyes that accompanied that surprise. Donna stayed a year or so and in my way I have never left.

Ursula’s studio was a world apart for me. A world of exploration beyond the small world of my life to a world of Beethoven and Brahms and so much other music, of Haiku, colors and expression. We would swing and sway, reach and pull to the inner voices that she so strongly nurtured in us all. Her genius was to provide us enough technique to express ourselves in improvisation or choreographic problems and then unifying us with the simple and galvanizing folk dances like Mya Mya.

I was able to return to the Cossitt Hall studio a few years back. The space seemed smaller after I had grown to be a man and toured the world as a professional modern dancer, but the ideas and principles that lingered there in my mind were just as large as ever. Those are indeed the foundation stones of my rich and wonderful life, and the gems that I have the privilege of trying to pass along to my students now. I am very sadden by her loss, but I remember a haiku that I once danced to with friends in class: since my house burned down -- I now have a better view -- of the rising moon

Yes, I feel as if my house has burned down, but a moon has risen. To my surprise is has a new face with a warm and generous smile and in brilliant blue eyes.

To Ursula Gray's daughters,

Your mother was a wonderful person and my life is much richer having known her. I took dance from Ursula when I was over 50 years old and she had such a love of music and dance that it was just a joy to be around her. The ladies in my class would get together on Ursula's birthday to honor this lovely woman. Fond memories will remain with the many people that were fortunate to have known Ursula. She
will be greatly missed.

Jolene Owens


.

Ursula Gray was our creative dance teacher when I was an adult, and my daughters were children. I didn't know until today that Ursula was born on exactly my own mother's birthday, December 22, 1916. When I read that, I felt that, in Ursula, I was given a second wonderful mother, a mother of my own creativity and joyful response to dance and movement. Ursula will always be a happy spirit leading us, as we all dance through the cosmos, whether as gleeful snowflakes like those in the sun this morning, or the softly sailing moon.

After Professor Gray in October 1977 died I called Ursula. He was my advisor at CC. I told Ursula I trusted him, more than anyone I'd ever known. I tried to write these feelings about trust in a presentable form. After several attempts, sent to Ursula, she remarked that one day I would be successful at it, because I kept at it. Finally, in the "spirit of Glenn" I had a short, humble story published that was in the spirit of Glenn. I will miss Ursula as I miss Glenn.

Ursula Gray was one of the most beautiful person that I ever worked with at CC. What a great legacy she has left behind.

Ursula was always very kind with us friends of her daughters when we were at the Gray household, however rowdy we might be. A sweet presence! I will think of her the next time I dance under the trees...

As a child I took dance lessons from Mrs. Gray every Saturday at CC. I would spend Friday nights at my grandmother Madeline Gallagher's and we would walk with her Scottie dog down to my dance lesson. I remember Mrs. Gray as a lady who wanted to pass dance onto the young. I loved my lessons and Mrs. Gray never made me feel as though I had two left feet. She was most encouraging. My thoughts and prayers are with the Gray family at this time.