Dance instructor Pat Cook announces retirement

Pat Cook hit the boards for a last dance with her students last week. She's retiring after 10 years of teaching dance in Sisters. photo by Tim O'Neal Pat Cook retired from active teaching in 1991. After more than 10 years as a Sisters dance instructor, she has retired again.

Last Thursday evening, May 20, Cook presented her final production, "How the West Was Fun," in the auditorium at Sisters High School.

Pat Cook and her husband, Richard, traveled from Dallas, Texas, to Portland to visit their son in 1991. Richard had recently retired from his position as an Episcopal Church pastor. Pat had been a school and dance teacher. They learned about a church opening in Sisters, crossed the mountains from Portland, and fell in love with the Sisters area.

Subsequently, Richard accepted the leadership of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration.

Pat Cook rented studio space in Sisters to provide a place to practice her own tap dancing. As time went on she became interested in teaching dance again and established the Pat Cook School of Dance. She built a class of 10 students, all three-year-olds.

Parents honored Cook with flowers. photo by Tim O'Neal

In 1993, Cascade Fitness Center was established. The property owner agreed to put in a floor next door suitable for dancing. That has since been the location for the dance school. Cook specialized in tap and jazz dancing, with beginning ballet up to the first grade. She felt there were strong ballet schools already established in the Bend area.

"How the West Was Fun" was, indeed, a fun event. Cook was joined by close to 100 dancers. Over twice that many parents, relatives, and friends came to watch. Brightly colored costumes, fast moving feet, and happy music kept the audience interested to the end. From the "Salty Dog Rag" to the "Rodeo Clowns," in-between numbers included "Little Chickadees," "Dungaree Dolls," "City Chicks," and more.

Tap and jazz dancing, with some gymnastics thrown in, were the order of the night, with performers of all ages.

Cook was assisted by her son, John, who has a doctorate in Performing Arts Studies and teaches at Northwestern University.

Cook joined the entire troupe for the finale, then recognized performers and helpers, past and present, with bouquets. She in turn was presented with more flowers than she could carry.

The performance ended with Cook mingling with the performers and past dance students, whom she asked to join her on stage. Some of the performers had been with the school since the beginning, starting as three-year-olds.

Cook asked that a public "thank you" be expressed to all who have been involved and helped to make her teaching years memorable.