Goucher community mourns death of Chrystelle Trump Bond

Beloved Goucher College educator, Chrystelle Trump Bond, Professor Emerita of Dance at Goucher College and founding chair of the Dance Program, died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 82 on May 6, 2020.  

A consummate scholar and teacher of dance history, she was a Goucher College faculty member for 55 years. Her passion for and expertise in dance history led her to found and direct Choregraphie Antique, the dance history ensemble of Goucher. She approached social dancing as a metaphor for American and European culture within a historical context. Her reconstructions of dances were performed in many venues. One of the most memorable experiences for the ensemble was performing at the “We the People” Inaugural Gala & Ball held in President Barack Obama’s honor in 2009. 

She was a staunch advocate of dance and received many accolades and recognition for her achievements as a teacher. Chrystelle served as president of Congress Research in dance and served on the board of the Society of Dance History Scholars. She was also the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Baltimore Dance Treasure Award presented by Dance Baltimore as recognition of her contribution to dance in Baltimore. Chrystelle also served as the dance critic for The Baltimore Sun during the 1960s and ’70s.

“I knew, even when I was being interviewed at Goucher for the dance position, that Chrystelle was an amazing force with incredible vision,” said Amanda Thom Woodson, co-director of the Center for Dance, Music, and Theater at Goucher College.  “She knew what she wanted and she always pushed hard for what she believed.”

In a 2014 interview with the Goucher Quarterly celebrating her 50th year at the college, Chrystelle said of her accomplishments, “My biggest achievement has been teaching Goucher students who have gone on making major contributions to dance performance, choreography, research, and reconstruction. I love lighting a spark and being able to meet the challenges that come of making dance an academic discipline.”

Her love of Goucher and dance will continue to be present in our community through the Chrystelle Trump Bond Dance and Music Collection in the college’s Special Collections and Archives. The Chrystelle Trump Bond and William Timothy Bond Dance Fund will continue to support this collection and dance research, while also supporting a dance book collection in the library, graduate fellowships, and guest lecturers.

Chrystelle was also an animal advocate, and a generation of Goucher students remembers her love for her black poodles that accompanied her often to campus. Her energy and kindness infused everything she did. She will be missed. 

For those wishing to make a gift in Chrystelle’s honor, contributions may be made to Goucher’s Friends of Dance. There will be a virtual remembrance event on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:00 pm, led by our Chaplain, Cynthia Terry. Please join us to celebrate and remember Chrystelle by sending an email to alumni@goucher.edu to request the Zoom link.