1949
Terry
2022
Terry Lowell Creach
November 20, 1949 — September 8, 2022
Terry Lowell Creach, born November 20, 1949 in Springfield, Missouri, died September 8, 2022 at his home in North Bennington, Vermont. He was an accomplished postmodern dancer and choreographer who taught dance at Bennington College from 1987 to 2019. While at Bennington, he served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2004 to 2010 and Acting Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs from 2017 to 2017.
Terry grew up in Missouri and Illinois, graduating from high school in Geneseo, Illinois. He obtained a degree in dance and theatre from the University of Oregon in 1972.
Terry's early career included dancing with Musawwir Gymnastic Dance Co., Rotante Dance Co., James Cunningham's Acme Co., the Vanaver Caravan, Annabelle Gamson, and Jane Comfort. In 1983, he and Stephen Koester founded the New York-based Creach/Koester dance company, which mostly performed duet pieces, including in collaboration with Bill T. Jones. In 1996, the company became Creach/Company under Terry's direction and often performed in larger ensembles (generally all male, which remains rare). The company toured extensively, including performances in Danspace Project, The Kitchen, Symphony Space, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Cleveland Public Theater, and Teatro de la Danza in Mexico City. Terry's choreography explored partnering, sharing space, taking weight, collaborative improvisation, and male athleticism. In his thoughtful, curious, detail-oriented approach to collaborative explorations, he demonstrated respect for the company members' artistic vision and creativity.
Terry served as a guest choreographer and teacher at numerous national and international dance programs including Tisch School of the Arts at New York University Summer Dance Festival, the Juilliard School, Ohio State University, Florida Dance Festival, Instituto Nacional de Belles Arts in Mexico City, University of Florida, Bates Dance Festival, and University of Maryland, College Park. His choreographic commissions included Daghdha Dance Co. of Limerick, Ireland; Mo-Trans Dance of Missoula, Montana; Dance Repertory Theater of Florida State University; and Nugent & Matteson Dance. He received choreographic fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Foundation for the Arts, and the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts.
It is fitting that Terry's approach to dance was often collaborative. His sweet disposition, ready laugh, and interpersonal sensitivity surely contributed to his effectiveness as an academic dean, as he deftly and diplomatically achieved consensus (or at least acceptance) on thorny academic issues among a faculty of diverse opinions, talents, and personalities. Collaboration also characterized many of the dinners and other gatherings with dear friends in the Bennington community which delighted Terry so much.
Terry is survived by his sister Lynn Spaight (and husband Tom Spaight) of Asheville, North Carolina; brother Don Creach (and wife Karen Raschke) of Richmond, Virginia; niece Chrissy Spaight of Los Angeles, California; aunt Marjorie Moore of Springfield, Missouri; and godson Theo Poulson of Lenox, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his father, Lowell Creach of Macks Creek, Missouri and his mother, Bobby Creach of Preston, Missouri.
A memorial gathering will be held at Bennington College, at 2:00 p.m. on November 20th.
Anyone wishing to make a charitable contribution in Terry's memory is encouraged to donate to Danspace Project Inc. in New York City, Bennington County Habitat for Humanity, or the Fund for North Bennington, Inc., through the office of the Mahar and Son Funeral Home 628 Main Street Bennington, VT 05201.
Online guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terry Lowell Creach, please visit our flower store.
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Sunday, November 20, 2022
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
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