MARBLEHEAD — Local dance educator Florence C. Whipple celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 29. Whipple, of Marblehead, had an extensive career at the Marblehead School of Ballet and was co-founder of the North Shore Civic Ballet, a nonprofit dance company that provided performances and arts education in Greater Boston.
Upon her retirement from the school and the dance company, she was named an Emerita member of the MSB faculty and Emerita Associate Director of the NSCB.
Collaborating with other artists has been an integral part of her career.
“Many collaborations took place at the Marblehead School of Ballet and the North Shore Civic Ballet. Without a doubt, the richest and most important of all was my collaboration with Florence. Our years together were exciting, productive, and rewarding in all aspects, both professionally and personally. The MSB and the NSCB family congratulate and wish her a very happy 100th birthday!” said Paula K. Shiff, MSB director and NSCB artistic director.
In 1972, Whipple joined the MSB faculty and led the children’s creative movement division. She also taught modern dance, created choreography, and co-developed educational programs for both public and private schools. Two years later, Shiff and Whipple co-founded the NSCB. The NSCB continues to train both seasoned professionals and aspiring dancers on the North Shore.
“Florence brought her artistic vision and choreography to the Marblehead School of Ballet and the North Shore Civic Ballet. Throughout our collaboration, we developed repertoire, with each adding our own skills and talents. We merged our passions for dance,” said Shiff.
Retirement was the beginning of another chapter in Whipple’s career and the development of new collaborations. In 1989, she began to study Reiki and became a Reiki master in 1994. She co-directed two Reiki clinics for North Shore Medical Center, as well as a private clinic in Salem.
In 2009, Whipple retired as a teacher at North Shore Community College after 40-plus years. During that time, she taught creative dance and co-developed the “Art & Perception” course with music instructor Kristin Webb and the art department’s Duane Eichholz. With Webb, she also developed the “Wellness and Healing Arts” certificate program and she taught Reiki in the program. In 2010, NSCC awarded her the “Excellence in Teaching” award.
