Dr. Albirda Rose received her Doctorate in Education in 1982 from the University of San Francisco, MA from Mills College in Dance and B.S. in Physical education (Dance Emphasis) and Minor in Drama. Dr. Rose graduated in the spring of 1999, from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley as a part of the American Baptist Seminar with a Masters in Divinity.
A Native of Oakland, California she began her dance instruction and training with Ms. Ruth Beckford, a former Katherine Dunham Dancer, and with Ms. Lousie Jorgenson, whose expertise was ballet. As a performing artist she trained and performed professionally as a dramatic artist, vocal artist, as well as a dancer and choreographer. One of her first professional performances was as a lead vocalist and dancer with the “Young Americans”, a production that toured the United States and Canada.
She was one of the featured choreographers for the 1995 “Black Choreographers Moving Toward the 21st Century” and at the American College Dance Festival in Tucson Arizona Spring of 1997, where her work received honorable mention. In spring 2000, She presented a full-length work “For Phil” a gospel suite in five sections: The Beginning; The Goal; The Process; The Prayer; The Praise. In 2002 her work “Primordial” was selected for the Gala concert of the American College Dance Festival and a write up and photos of the work was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine. “The Goal”, the second section of the work “For Phil” was performed as a part of the “Root of the Source” performance At the Alice Arts Theater of Oakland, February 2001 with a full gospel choir. In the winter of 2004, a play entitled “Generation”, (written and directed by Dr. Rose) was produced by Dance With Reason and performed to packed audiences.
Additionally, Dr. Rose serves as the Certification Director and a member of the administrative dance faculty for the Katherine Dunham Technique Seminar in St. Louis. In 1986, she traveled to Brazil with Miss Dunham as a demonstrator. Out of this experience her Book “Dunham Technique A Way of Life” was published in 1990. Her goal is to continue the legacy of Katherine Dunham through the systematic training and certification program of Dunham instructors. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Rose was designated as a Master Teacher of Dunham Technique.
Her more recent focus and passion is to continue to work in the communities of San Francisco bringing dance and the arts to children. This past fall was the fifth year of the New Moves–Village Dancers Concert. She has received the Ruth Beckford Award for Extraordinary Contributions in the field of Dance; Minister of the year by the National Council of Negro Women Golden Gate section; Faculty Award for Outstanding Contribution to International Community Service Learning Institutionalization; The Robert R. Mason Award Essence of excellence; Certificate of Appreciation of outstanding and dedicated service from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
