Manzell Senters: A Dancer Remembered

Manzell Senters was born in Dallas, Texas in 1947, son of Roy Senters and Betty Alford. He began studying dance at an early age and went on to pursue dance at Bishop College, the Toni Beck School of Dance, Connecticut College School of Dance, and Southern Methodist University (where Toni Beck also taught).

Around 1969 he moved to Salt Lake to join Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) and teach choreography as an associate professor at the U. Around February 1973, Vance Manwaring (1950-1997) and Dale Miller, who were at BYU in their dance program, met Manzell Senters backstage at the Pioneer Theatre after a show by RDT. After the performance, Vance and Dale went to the Sun Tavern (at its original location at 400 W. South Temple). After a few drinks, they were about to leave when Manzell walked into the Sun. As Dale writes, “our eyes met and we were drawn to each other and within minutes we were out on the dance floor.” Their on-and-off relationship began that February night and lasted until the holidays that winter. Dale would usually drive up from Provo on weekends so they could go out together and stay at Manzell’s apartment in the Avenues. Sometimes they went out to a Great Salt Lake beach or attended movie matinees, with Dale returning to Provo Sunday evenings.

Manzell Senters and Joan Moon of Repertory Dance Theatre

As their relationship ended, Manzell began seeing a man named Larry Robinson after they also met at the Sun. Unfortunately, during their time together, Manzell began using heroin, about which Larry was completely ignorant. As Larry recalls, “there was some deadly heroin going around SLC at the time,” and Manzell fell victim to it, dying of an overdose on Halloween night, 1974. Joe Redburn, owner of the Sun Tavern, was good friends with Manzell and after his death, Joe pushed Salt Lake police to focus on the heroin trade in the city to hopefully prevent more deaths.

Unfortunately, the Daily Utah Chronicle published a statement that Manzell Senters had committed suicide, based on a statement of a friend of Senters. Three weeks later, after the medical examiner’s report ruled it an accidental overdose, the Chronicle printed a retraction.

RDT’s December 1974 concert at Kingsbury Hall was in honor of Manzell and all proceeds and donations from that concert were used to set up a scholarship in Manzell’s name after his death.

What a tragedy that the world lost such a beautiful, talented, passionate, and creative soul in his prime.