For as long as Judy Thompson-Price can remember, dance has been a part of her life. "As a young child I loved watching old musicals and they helped inspire me to want to dance--especially the movie 'The Red Shoes,'" states Thompson-Price. "One day my kindergarten teacher asked everyone what they wanted to be when they grew up, and I said I wanted to be a dancer. So I guess I always knew I loved to dance." Her kindergarten teacher proceeded to call her mom and inform her of Thompson-Price's desire to dance. At the age of six, her mom enrolled her dance classes, and she has been dancing and studying dance for the past 54 years.

Most of Thompson-Price's dance training has been in her hometown of San Antonio; she also attended additional summer training programs in various cities across the United States. At the young age of eight, Thompson-Price began entering and winning dance competitions in San Antonio. Loving the opportunity to perform, at the age of 12, she began performing weekly on "Hollywood Calling"--a San Antonio television show produced in California. In 1967, Thompson-Price danced on the "Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour" television program. She also performed for several summers at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Being able to perform and share dance with others is one of the things Thompson-Price enjoys most. She appreciates all types of dance, however, ballet is her favorite. Thompson-Price comments, "To me the technique to perform ballet is unparalleled to any other form of dance. It is pure and beautiful."

Thompson-Price attended The University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in education. Following her childhood dream of being a dancer, she began teaching dance classes and choreographing. "The best part about teaching dance is that it allows me to share my love of dance with my students." After teaching for two years at the Austin Ballet Theatre, Thompson-Price became the director of the company. In 1979, Thompson-Price opened up her own dance studio, The Dance Center, in Austin. "As a teacher, it is so rewarding to see the accomplishments of the students," notes Thompson-Price. "It is exciting to see students perfect technique, polish dances, grow in poise and self confidence, and then take all those things and perform them."

Richard Hossalla brought Thompson-Price to Southwestern in 1981. Hossalla was looking for a choreographer and through a turn of events found Thompson-Price. She has been at Southwestern ever since, and in 1987 became a part-time faculty member serving as the Theatre Department's only dance instructor. She states, "I enjoy working with the students here and keeping my classes challenging yet interesting. Southwestern students are great. They are eager to learn and interesting to be around--I even learn from them."

Thompson-Price teaches ballet, tap, jazz, modern and theatre dance and dance repertory classes. The majority of the dance classes she teaches focus on classroom work, where students learn steps and technique. The dance repertory is a class where students learn and perfect dances for an end-of-the-year performance. Thompson-Price hopes that students come into her classes and not only enjoy them but also take away a sense of respect of the art of dancing. "Naturally, I expect students to learn the steps, terminology and the technique required to execute the dance. But I also hope they learn to appreciate dance, not only to perform it themselves, but also to watch others perform," states Thompson-Price.

All of the hard work that Thompson-Price has done has not gone unnoticed. She has received numerous Austin Circle of Theatre Awards for best choreography. In 1981, she was honored with the Outstanding Young Women of America award. Last year, she was nominated for an Austin American-Statesman Critic Award for her choreography in "Hair."

When not teaching dance or choreographing at Southwestern, Thompson-Price enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two-and-a-half-year old twin grandchildren. She also enjoys gardening and aerobics. Of course, she also finds time to choreograph for the Zilker Park summer musicals in Austin.