Thank you Maranda Blumenthal

Maranda Blumenthal in rehearsal with Living Water Dance Company in 2015

I first met Maranda Blumenthal as a fellow dancer auditioning for Contemporary Dance Theatre of Tulsa’s artistic director, Jill Priest. 
Maranda and I quickly connected through our love of movement and performance.  We both had the opportunity to have our own opportunities to choreograph for the company, as well. I remember the experience of working under her as a choreographer to be nothing but fun with a lot of puzzles to solve. As a performer, that was always interesting to me. It helped forge our friendship for the years to come.
 
The next chapter of life for me was one of challenge but I was thrilled to find myself Maranda’s housemate (her and her gigantic bunny rabbit, that my cat hardly knew what to think of). The energy of another creative in the house was invigorating and supportive. I really feel it gave me much needed fuel to not only complete my grad studies but to find reserves of strength spiritually when we talk of faith and art matters. Maranda and I would find ourselves residing in the same state again a couple years later in Tulsa; two gypsy’s that always seemed to find each other. 
 
Although I don’t remember now how long Maranda has served on The Bell House Board of Directors (I apparently didn’t keep records tidy enough in the beginnings of Bell House history), I’m keenly aware of all the support and service she has provided selflessly for many, many years. In addition to the Board of Directors, Maranda also lent her creative talents to the Exchange Choreography Festival Creative Team in countless meetings and planning sessions that has helped make the festival the “go-to event” for modern dance in Tulsa. 
 
As she and her husband, Joshua, anticipate the arrival of their second child, she has chosen now as a time for a hiatus from board activity. I’m so appreciative of her service and commitment to the arts in Tulsa and at The Bell House. Most of all, I value our friendship and wait expectantly with them to receive this next new blessing into their lives. The Bell House doors are always open in a professional capacity for returning service in the future but, more importantly, they are open unconditionally to her and her family as we share life and love and, even burdens, with them for many more years to come. 
 
Rachel Bruce Johnson

Below is a summarized biography:
 
Maranda Blumenthal graduated from Belhaven University in 2002 with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance.  For the next few years she had the honor of working with & sharing the stage with dance companies such as Living Water Dance Co., and Tulsa Contemporary Dance Co.  However, Maranda quickly realized that her heart was in teaching kids and teens the joys of exploring dance as an expressive, creative, & meaningful art form.  She is currently the Director of Ballet at Soul II Sole in Bixby, OK, as well as the contemporary instructor at K&Co. Dance in Claremore.  

Maranda is also the owner of Blink Photo in Tulsa, OK, where she photographs weddings, portraits, and events, but loves to shoot dance photography most of all!  When she's not at the studio or working on a photoshoot, Maranda calls Glenpool, OK home, where her family lives in eager anticipation of a second child with her wonderfully supportive husband, Joshua, and their son, Oziah, who can’t wait to be a big brother. ​

Thank you, Maranda, for all your years of service to supporting dance in Tulsa.