Renowned Dancer, Choreographer Dan Wagoner Dies.

Robert Daniel "Dan" Wagoner, an internationally known modern dancer, choreographer, and professor of dance, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at Dennett Road Manor Nursing Home, Oakland, where he had been a resident for several years.

Born in Springfield, W.Va., July 13, 1932, Dan was the youngest child among ten children of the late Elwood and Grace (Runion) Wagoner. He was a graduate of Romney High School, West Virginia University, and the WVU School of Pharmacy. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having graduated from the WVU ROTC program with the rank of 2nd lieutenant. He was a member of the WVU student dance group Orchesis during his time in Morgantown.

While stationed at Fort Meade with the Army, Dan began to take modern dance lessons from Ethel Butler in Washington, D.C. Upon seeing Wagoner's potential, Butler advised him to go to New York City and enroll in the Martha Graham School of Dance. Graham, considered the founder of modern dance, likewise saw how gifted Wagoner was, offered him a scholarship, and soon made him a principal dancer in her company. He also taught incoming dancers at the Graham School.

While touring with Graham, Dan performed with Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, and several others who would go on to make a name for themselves in modern dance. He then joined the company of fellow Graham dancer Paul Taylor, and was a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company for a number of years before starting his own New York-based company, Dan Wagoner and Dancers, which he directed for 25 years. His company performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia, as well as for the annual dance season in New York City.

Dan choreographed nearly 60 dances for his dancers, and his works have been performed by many companies in the United States, England, and Finland. He taught at Harvard University, Connecticut College, and Bates College summer dance programs and at numerous universities and festivals, both in this country and abroad. He was an artist in residence at his alma mater West Virginia University and at many other universities, and served as the artistic director of the London Contemporary Dance Theater in 1989 and 1990.

When Dan's performing career came to a close, he joined the dance faculty of Florida State University, which had one of the top dance schools in the nation, thanks in large part to his being a member of the faculty. Young dance majors from many nations chose to attend FSU because Dan was the primary instructor of modern dance. He taught at FSU until he was in his ninth decade of life, but was finally forced to retire because of a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. After residing in Mountain Lake Park with his sister, Hannah, for about two years, he then moved to Dennett Road Manor.

Besides his parents, Dan was pre-deceased by his longtime partner, poet/photographer, George Montgomery; five sisters, Dorothy Wagoner, Reba W. Roach, Josephine W. Pownall, Ruth Maxine Mahood, and Mary Susan W. Williams; two brothers, C. Jackson "Jack" Wagoner and E. Alec Wagoner.

He is survived by one sister, Hannah W. Sincell, Mountain Lake Park; one brother, Loy A. Wagoner, Springfield, W.Va.; one foster sister, Martha H. McLaughlin, Stockton, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.

Dan's ashes will be laid to rest at the Wagoner Farm Family Cemetery in Fort Ashby, W.Va., where a graveside service will be held, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, May 25, 2024, followed by a family gathering to share food and remembrances of Dan. All friends, family, and members of the dance community are warmly invited to attend.

Please direct inquiries to Shaffer Funeral Home, Romney, W.Va. 304.822.3511.