Remembering Miss Madeleine
Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet was a Sturgis tradition for 50 years. In 1962, Madeleine took over the school from her mother. Mrs. Marion Murphy had started it years earlier in their living room at the Howe Military School rectory. When her mother retired, Madeleine moved classes to the Sturges-Young Auditorium.
At that time athletic young ladies did not have many opportunities to use their natural abilities. Ballet class was a good option for Sturgis girls to develop athletic skill and strength.
Mary Gerow Sutter was one of those athletic girls. When she was five years old, Mary’s parents enrolled her and she stayed involved until Madeleine Murphy Parker retired in 1997.
Over the years hundreds of girls, and quite a few boys, would flood the halls of Sturges-Young for weeknight classes. Under the direction of the tireless Miss Madeleine they’d learn how to “do things right.” It was a life lesson Miss Madeleine taught whether on or off the stage, Mary said. Strength and discipline are key to success in life.
Each year, after nine months of classes, Miss Madeleine held an annual ballet in June. The event was free but donations were accepted and for a good cause such as polio, especially in the early years.
Going to “The Nutcracker” in the summer might seem unusual but Sturges-Young was always packed for the one-night Miss Madeleine performance. Other years the ballet might be “Swan Lake” and a variety of other classics. Towards the end of her career, Madeleine began to write her own ballets.
Chris Horn, a male ballet dancer in the 1990s, remembers that Miss Madeleine also helped with all the Sturgis High School musicals and any other community event that required choreography.
For years she also directed the Miss Sturgis pageant that was part of Michigan Week. Where her talents were needed Miss Madeleine was willing to help out.
And while she’s referred to as Miss Madeleine, she was also Mrs. Joseph Parker. They had two children Christopher and Elizabeth. Joe was every bit as committed to the success of the ballet school as his wife and worked tirelessly to assure the success of the ballets.
Successful they were. Hundreds of families participated in the 50 years of the ballet school’s existence. It served not just Sturgis families but also those from other communities.
The Sturgis Historical Society hosted, “Remembering Madeleine Murphy School of Ballet” March 9, 2025 at Oak Enrichment Center, 306 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis.
