Bill Wood has been a fixture of the Rockville Civic Ballet since he first started dancing at RCB more than 40 years ago.  Mr. Wood was married to RCB’s founder, Ms. Claudia Mangan, for 31 years, until her untimely passing on August 23, 2015.

Mr. Wood has been part of the RCB since its beginnings and he figures prominently in the memories of many among the multiple generations of RCB dancers.  Mr. Wood performs in every RCB production and has been instrumental in launching the FRCB.

He has requested that we post this message to the RCB Alumni and share it with the RCB community.

Dear RCB Friends,

I am writing you today to remind you of Rockville Civic Ballet and let you know, although Claudia has passed away, the RCB continues to keep her legacy alive. I met Claudia when she was just starting the RCB. She was a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, and was interested in trying her hand at pulling together a ballet company. Claudia felt it should be possible to participate in the arts without going into Washington, D.C. She felt people should be able to dance regardless of their shape or size or age. Claudia felt that young women should have the chance to come fiercely alive in pursuit of physical discipline, in the same way boys could with football and that everyone should have the chance to know the joy of being the focus of attention in a real performance. She just knew she could create better stories, better shows than the ones she had grown up performing. That young woman became a force of nature. Claudia convinced the City of Rockville to teach ballet classes in the elementary schools in the afternoon and start the RCB. She got her friends and family to be dancers. She spent all her time choreographing dances and sewing costumes. She got her father and sisters to help build simple set pieces and back drops. She never tired of getting the community interested in her classes and involved in her shows.

Claudia created many ballets; seven versions of ballet classics, seven new full-length ballets and more than 15 new short dances. Each of you has shared in Claudia’s vision by dancing in many of her works. You have also known the discipline and determination involved with classes and rehearsals and the joy of becoming part of the magic Claudia created on stage. You have been party guests, older sisters, Clara, Fritz, dolls, mice, snowflakes, flowers and soloists in Nutcracker or any of the many parts Claudia created with her dancers in mind. Remember the thrill of dancing a part you always wanted or of working so hard to perfect a part you never thought you could master but did, with Claudia’s encouragement. These experiences are truly priceless.

Preserving Claudia’s legacy through performances by the RCB is a goal of the newly-created Friends of Rockville Civic Ballet, a 501(c)(3) non-profit registered organization. Under the direction of the company’s current Director and choreographers, Eleanor Simpson and Erin Kwong, whom Claudia appointed prior to her death, her vision and creativity will be preserved and expanded, with your help.

The Rockville Civic Ballet has done more than present wonderful performances to audiences in Rockville. This Company has shaped generations of young people with the discipline of hard work and the joy of music and dance. If you believe, as I do, that this experience should continue to be available and that Claudia’s legacy should be kept alive, please follow my lead and become a Friend of Rockville Civic Ballet.

With Love and Appreciation,

Bill