Aileen Passloff (1931–2020)

If you would like information about supporting the Passloff Award for Summer Study, please call 845-758-7116 or read more here.

In a letter to the Bard community, President Leon Botstein memorialized Professor Passloff.

Aileen Passloff, professor emerita of dance, passed away at the age of 89 on November 3rd, 2020. Aileen graduated from Bennington College in 1953. She ran the Aileen Passloff Dance Company in New York from 1958 to 1968. In 1969, she came to Bard, where she taught for 46 years, until her retirement in 2015; for 26 of those years, she chaired the Dance Program. Her work as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor influenced many generations of students and is a lasting living tribute to her achievements as a teacher and performer. Her spirit will live on in the performing arts at Bard, and in those Bardians whom she inspired, particularly Arthur Aviles ’87 and Charlotte Hendrickson '07, with whom she collaborated for many years, and Doug Schultz '77 and James Chambers '81, the chair of Bard's Board of Trustees

Aileen was a long-time member of the Judson Dance Theater. Her work was presented most recently at the 92nd Street Y, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Judson Church. She starred, as herself, with Arthur Aviles and others, in Marta Renzi’s 2017 film Her Magnum Opus, Renzi’s ode to creativity and community. Aileen was a private coach for many professional dancers, including dancers with American Ballet Theater. She was also a passionate advocate and performer of the flamenco tradition. The “Passloff Pass,” which offers Bard students $5.00 tickets to selected Fisher Center events, was created in her honor by an alumnus in 2017.

In Aileen's own words: "My job is to keep them company while they discover who they are, and help them not to get in their own way." The lasting legacy of Aileen’s work is emblematic of the caring professional relationships that are born and endure at the college. She will be greatly missed.

To the best of our knowledge, Aileen has no surviving family. Her only sister, who was a well-regarded visual artist, died several years ago. Arrangements have not yet been made but will be shared with the community as soon as they are known.

Leon Botstein
President

Post Date: 11-03-2020