Marilyn Jane Zoda Gaston

Marilyn was born in Arlington, VA, February 9, 1945 and died in Winter Park, FL, on February 22, 2018. She was a ballerina, ballet instructor, author and animal lover.

Marilyn danced with the Ft. Worth Ballet; Casa Mañana Summer Musicals; the Atlanta Ballet Company (1972-74); the German State Theatre ballets in Lubbock and Karlsruhe (1974-77, as a fully-contracted company member); the Ballet du Rain (then in Strasbourg, France); and the Maryland Ballet (until 1979, when it was headquartered in Baltimore). Marilyn taught at universities, private dance schools and pre-professional studios. In 1981, she founded the Ballet Academy of Baltimore and the Ballet Concerto of Baltimore (now the Baltimore Ballet) until 1997. She served on the dance faculties of Towson University, Goucher College, and Loyola College (Baltimore). She graduated with a B.F.A. in Ballet/Theatre from Texas Christian University; an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte; and an M.F.A. in Dance on a teaching fellowship from 2009 to 2012 at the University of Oklahoma.

Marilyn also published several ballet books on her teaching techniques as well as two fiction books. She published under the name M. Z. Gaston (amazon.com).

Marilyn loved and was deeply dedicated to her students. Her past students have been accepted into many college dance programs, pre-professional schools, and into professional companies. She was a dedicated instructor at Orlando Ballet until the time of her death. She is survived by many friends and her dogs, Zoe and Snickers.

To remember Marilyn please consider a donation to Orlando Ballet, 3751 Maguire Blvd, Suite 111, Orlando, FL, 32803 or to VIP (Pet) Rescue of Central Florida, P. O. Box 940862, Maitland, FL 32794.