Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1488524
110 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 IN MEMORIAM Jean Evans Weaver (1927 - 2022) BY MICHAEL W. PANNELL M any voices have raised in tribute since the passing of Jean Evans Weaver — dance teacher, school owner, children, and arts advocate — on Nov. 2 at age 95. A fifth-generation Maconite, Weaver touched the lives of thousands, primarily through her Dance Arts Studio, the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia production, and her other endeavors advancing the appreciation and performance of dance, such as co-founding the Middle Georgia Youth Ballet. All were towards the dual purposes of enhancing the community's cultural life and showcasing its young dancers by giving them opportunities to shine. More than 100,000 people have seen performances initiated by Weaver, and thousands of others danced and participated in them. As comments continue to accumulate on social media, in quiet conversations, and at public memorials, here is what some of those who those who worked with her, learned from her, and knew her best are saying. Few benefited more personally and professionally from Weaver's work than Alice Sheridan. Weaver was Sheridan's childhood dance teacher and adult friend and mentor. When Weaver retired in 2016, it was Sheridan she handed the reins to. "Jean Weaver has been part of my life since I was a young girl, and, like so many others, she instilled her love for ballet in my heart," Sheridan said. "She shaped the direction of my career, and this ultimately became the passion in my life. She is the reason I myself began teaching ballet. She nurtured my love for dance as a student, and, when I returned to Macon after dancing with the Milwaukee Ballet, she nurtured my love for teaching. Whenever I see a talented student, an amazing performance, or the spark of promise in the eyes of a little one, I will always think of Jean Weaver. I loved her dearly." Sheridan saw a side of Weaver that few got to experience. "People rarely saw her generosity through the scholarships she gave to talented students who couldn't afford to pursue an education in dance," she said. "This had a profound impact on me, especially since she never received recognition for it. It showed me her genuine passion for ballet as well as her love for the arts, her students, and her community. We've now established an ongoing scholarship in her honor through the Jean Weaver Center for Dance." Weaver's impact was felt most deeply by her students. It is fitting that one of Weaver and Sheridan's former students should return to dance a lead Nutcracker role this year. Roxy Shackelford, now with the St. Louis Ballet, began in small parts and rose to play the coveted role of Clara in 2012. This year, she comes to dance as the Dew Drop Fairy and Snow Queen. "Miss Weaver has been a legendary figure to me from the first time I met her at the age of 9," Shackelford said. "One of my first memories is when she