Marilyn V. Patton (or MVP as her students knew her) has dedicated her life to the art of dance. For 27 years, from 1965-1992, Marilyn led the UMass Dance program. During her time leading UMass Dance, Marilyn transformed the lives of thousands of Dance students. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of UMass Dance, and Marilyn’s 90th birthday! We also look forward to celebrating a new home for UMass Dance.

For generations of students at UMass Amherst, the UMass Dance program has held rehearsals and performances in the Totman Gym. We are thrilled to announce that Dance will move into a newly-renovated location at 472 North Pleasant Street. The new space, opening in the fall 2026 semester, will include a large, fully outfitted performance space with sprung floors and new dressing rooms, as well as a separate rehearsal studio.

UMass Dance alumni wish to honor Marilyn by naming the new rehearsal studio in honor of Marilyn, for her years of tireless work in leading UMass Dance. The space will be named the Marilyn V. Patton Dance Studio!

This new studio will be more than a room. It is where dancers will train their bodies, refine their artistry, and build confidence together. It is where ideas will take shape before they ever reach the stage, and where students will discover discipline, expression, and belonging through movement.

This is a group effort to support the Marilyn V. Patton Dance Studio. Your gift will ensure this new space will be welcoming and inspiring for the students who rely on it every day. By supporting the renovation of this rehearsal studio, you are investing directly in the creative lives of student dancers and in the future of dance at UMass Amherst.

Thank you for honoring Marilyn and helping to create a space where movement becomes meaning, and where students can continue to learn, create, and thrive.

Questions?

Would you like to pay your commitment off over a fiver-year period? Please email Robby O'Sullivan, Executive Director of Development at the UMass Amherst Foundation to discuss your giving options. He is happy to assist with all efforts around this project.