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The Daily Gazette SARATOGA SPRINGS - Phyllis Latin, a well-known choreographer and dance instructor, was honored Tuesday by Mayor Kenneth Klotz for dedicating more than 30 years to the development and promotion of dance in the city. Latin, 73, has owned dance schools in Pennsylvania, New York City and Saratoga Springs. She founded her first Saratoga Springs dance school, Saratoga Ballet Company, in 1971. That school. which was launched after Latin received a $250.000 education training grant. has since dissolved, but not before the school's 12 young dancers all went on to become professional dancers, she said. Latin also is credited with designing Empire State College's dance degree program and serving as the founding president of the Saratoga County Arts Council. Most recently, Latin has been focusing her efforts on her now 2-year-old Phyllis Latin Dance Company, which on Dec. 10 finished a month long visit to Moscow in Russia. During the visit, 16 of her local dancers participated in what she believes is the first on-stage collaboration featuring Russian and American dancers and an American choreographer, Latin said. The group, which joined with 16 Russian dancers, performed four ballets, including "Pater Olympian," a new classical ballet written and funded by New York City financier Robert G. Hoffman. Latin, who is originally from Kansas, had her dance career cut short at 22 when a car accident left her with severe back injuries. Since then, she has spent most of her time working as a dance instructor and choreographer. Besides operating several dance schools, Latin also has taught at Albright College in Reading, Pa., Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., and Michigan State University in East Lansing.. Mich. Klotz said he is impressed by Latin's efforts to promote intercultural collaboration between groups like the American dancers and the Russians. Latin's recent trip to Moscow came at a time when Klotz and the members of the Saratoga Springs City Council had been trying to develop a relationship with Chekhov, Russia, through the international Sister Cities Program. The city of Chekhov is located on the Lopasnya River about 50 miles south of Moscow. The Sister Cities relationship has already generated a few trips between the two cities. A delegation from Chekhov visited Saratoga Springs this summer. Klotz and a group of Saratogians also visited Chekhov in 2001. Contact Robin K. Cooper at 587-1780 or cooper@dailygazette.com.
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