Distinguished Alumni: Marilyn Berrett

Legacy Award

It was when Marilyn Berrett was 4 and she saw her cousin dance the way a seashell made her feel that a lifelong love affair with dance began. Though opportunities to do so were not always easily accessible, Berrett’s perseverance and ability to garner support catapulted her from being a Virginia Tanner mentee at the Children’s Dance Theatre to an Elizabeth R. Hayes Scholarship recipient at the University of Utah, to an award-winning Professor Emeritus at Brigham Young University, an independent dance artist, and master teacher in modern dance, choreography, Graham technique, creative dance for children, and pedagogy.

Berrett earned her BA in modern dance at the University of Utah (’79) and went on to receive her MA in Dance from BYU (’84) and still collaborates with dance colleagues around the globe presenting at conferences, guest teaching, and choreographing at schools, universities, and dance companies. Berrett treasures her “roots” at the University of Utah and feels humbled and honored to receive the 2023 College of Fine Arts Legacy Award.