A Conversation with Maxine Strawder

Debuts Friday, February 4, 2022 on WKNO

Recently crews from WKNO filmed dancer and civil rights activist Maxine Starling Strawder in the Imagine Studio at Ballet Memphis. Strawder, known as the Silverbird, has lived a fascinating life filled with passion and determination.

As a young girl she was exposed to the work of legendary African-American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham which led her to enroll at Cleveland's Karamu House. Her talent was undeniable, and she later studied dance in Haiti, Denmark, and Germany and obtained a Master's in Library and Information Science which brought her to Memphis. She was one of the first African-American librarians in Memphis and eventually rose to branch manager at Gaston Park.

Despite her successful library career, she still felt her passion for dance, and in 1973 was one of the organizers of the First National Congress of Blacks in Dance. She danced, taught, and stayed active in the Memphis arts community for decades. Even in her eighties, she is still studying at the University of Memphis and keeping her body limber with dance and tai chi.

She said “Dance is a universe unto itself. It’s not only taking care of your body. It’s taking care of your mind. It’s a worldview.”

See the trailer for the program here and visit WKNO for more information.