Winthrop Mourns the Passing of Beloved Dance Faculty Member Sandra Neels

“Sandra Neels was an artist of international acclaim whose contributions to the field of dance were as profound as they were far-reaching. Her extraordinary career and international contributions brought prestige not only to her discipline but to our university,” said Karen Oremus, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “At Winthrop, she was more than a colleague—she was a mentor, a visionary and a force of inspiration to generations of students. Sandra’s legacy lives on through the artistry she cultivated and the students she empowered. We mourn her loss deeply and honor her with immense gratitude.”

The Department of Theatre and Dance plans to remember Neels in early December during the Fall Dance Showcase. Kelly Ozust, an associate professor of dance, will restage one of Neels’ works, according to Professor Daniel Gordon, department chair.

Students heard about Neels’ passing through an email and quickly started sharing memories on social media.

Robert Sepheus, a junior non-traditional student with years of experience in dance, said he finally learned to tap dance from Neels. “Sandra gave this world everything. She danced, taught, loved and transformed every room she entered,” he said. “And though her energy was always in motion, I believe now, she’s finally at peace, wrapped in divine rest, having fulfilled her purpose with unmatched grace.”

Others shared memories about her influence and mentorship. One student wrote in an evaluation that due to Neels’ tough and serious attitude towards ballet, that the student has found a new love and appreciation for ballet. Another student was thankful for Neels’ help in earning a place in the graduate program at Florida State University in the fall.

Former Winthrop theatre coworkers reflected on how Neels was a marvelous friend and incomparable artist. “As our colleague at Winthrop for 16 years, we had the opportunity to see her creative genius at work, to take her classes and to collaborate with her,” wrote Dan and Jeannie Marlin Woods, a former associate dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “For Sandra, dance was her life, her passion, her reason for being. She greatly expanded our understanding of this ephemeral art and inspired us in our creative work in theatre. She was loved, and we will miss her greatly. With her passing, a star has gone out in the universe.”

Surviving is her sister, Sheryl Johnston, of Chicago, Illinois. Parker Funeral Home in Rock Hill is in charge of arrangements.

About Sandra Neels

Born in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, 1939, Neels grew up in Portland, Oregon. With two parents who excelled in the arts, Neels was destined to join the performing arts field. Her father was a construction worker who enjoyed ballroom dancing. Her mother was a singer, entertainer and pianist for a dance school, where Neels first studied tap and ballet.

After attending Portland State College for a couple of years, Neels moved to Seattle to study with modern dancer Martha Nishitani, and that’s when she really fell in love with modern dance.

Shortly after that, she moved to New York City, studied with modern dance pioneer Merce Cunningham, and he asked her to join his company.

Neels spent a decade (1963-73) traveling the world with Cunningham, who is considered one of the greatest American dance artists. This was followed by a prolific period during which she choreographed more than 300 works across diverse platforms—founding her own studio and company in New York City, creating pieces for the Utah Repertory Dance Theatre, musicals nationwide, and fashion shows in New York, Toronto, Winnipeg and Los Angeles.

She also appeared as a guest choreographer on The Merv Griffin Show and served as artist-in-residence at numerous universities.

Canada benefited from Neels’ talents, where she created works for The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, the Manitoba Opera Association, and more. As an educator, she inspired students on faculty and summer sessions at institutions such as the University of South Florida, York University, Harvard, CalArts, UNC–Greensboro, and, of course, at Winthrop.

Neels was a revered adjudicator and coach, working with Canada’s arts councils, the National Endowment for the Arts and national rhythmic gymnastics competitions. She returned to her roots with Merce Cunningham’s legacy in the last decade, showing off an amazing memory for choreography as she helped reconstruct seven of his works and restaging solos, including for the 2019 Cunningham Centennial at Brooklyn Academy of Music.

She found other ways to contribute to the field through scholarship. She is the author of two textbooks now used at Winthrop, and numerous articles in Dance Magazine and Dance Teacher.