RICHARD A. ROSE

ROSE, RICHARD A. (RIC)
Richard A. Rose of Gainesville, FL died on November 18, 2017 at 9:30 am at Haven Hospice at the side of Isa García-Rose, his wife and life partner of 30 years, as beloved family members, treasured friends, and beloved students bid him farewell with love and care. A man of dry humor, easy grace, and immense talent, Ric lived his life in the most kind and unpretentious manner, ever encouraging of those around him. He was sixty-one years old.
Associate professor and longtime coordinator of the dance program of the School of Theatre and Dance, Ric was a member of the theatre and dance faculty at the University of Florida since 1987. A warm and playful artist and a patient, supportive educator, he was also a true colleague and a faithful friend. Ric was twice awarded both the Teacher of the Year (College of Fine Arts) at UF and the TIP University Award for excellence in teaching. He was recognized with a departmental Faculty of the Year and a university Superior Accomplishment Award. Among numerous works he created for University of Florida dancers, and his own Shadow Dance Theatre, he worked with UF colleagues in music and electrical engineering to develop a nationally recognized and internationally performed dancer-regulated alternative MIDI controller to create sound and light environments in performance.
Ric was graduated from the Lewisburg Area Senior High School in 1974 (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania). In 1978, he received a BA in Speech and Theatre Education, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio where he took his first dance classes with the Cleveland Modern Dance Association, followed by study at the Cleveland Ballet. He was awarded the MFA in Dance in 1981 from Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut.
Ric began his career in the commercial dance sector performing as a dancer/singer at Bally's Park Place Casino and Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey; an experience he would later unpack in dance-theatre work, his preferred genre as an artmaker. In 1986, Ric moved to Gainesville to become a principal dancer with the Dance Alive National Ballet, where he danced a multitude of roles, Sancho Panza in Don Quixote, among them. He performed the role of the Nutcracker Prince and-like the fairy tale-Isa danced the role of Clara to capture his heart onstage and for the rest of his life.
As a member of Actor's Equity Association, Ric performed multiple dramatic roles at the Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville, FL, most recently starring in 'Robin Hood.' Among many choreographic credits, he also wrote and directed 'The Canta Danca Dancer' which toured the state of Florida for the Hippodrome's 'Building Audiences of Tomorrow' program, and directed the mainstage production of 'The Winter Wonderettes,' as well as the Senior Playwright Festival's production of 'Sepulveda.' Ric enjoyed recalling his role in the movie Doc Hollywood where he appeared as a squash.
Ric is survived by his wife, Isa; and by his mother, Marion Ranck Rose of Lewisburg, PA, who celebrated her 100th birthday together with Ric and family this year. Ric is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence S. and Barbara Rose, Lewisburg, PA; sister, Judith L. Mickanis, Lewisburg, PA; and sister and brother-in-law, Maryann and Patrick Calpin, East Stroudsburg, PA; his mother and father-in-law, Esperanza and Dionisio Garcia; and sister and brother-in-law, Maria García and José Caballero. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews; along with close friends and colleagues, and students and alumni of the UF School of Theatre and Dance, who hold him close in their hearts. Ric's father, Harry Vernon Rose, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Ric Rose Fund for Dance (#F022501) www.uff.ufl.edu/give/ricrose, University of Florida Foundation; and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF). Services will take place on Friday, December 22, 2017 at 1:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Lewisburg PA, Reverend Mackenzie Scott presiding. The University of Florida College of the Arts and School of Theatre + Dance will host a Celebration of Life on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 2:00 pm in the Constans Theatre, University of Florida.