In April 2025, prior to the University of Georgia dance department’s yearly spring showcase, student-performers, faculty, and spectators came together in the recently renamed Victor and Annette Riden Lobby in the Dance Building to commemorate the newly finished renovations and pay tribute to the couple whose legacy inspired the donation that made it possible.

Victor Jr. received his degree from UGA shortly after returning to the United States following World War II, while Annette served as a secretary at the university. The couple had two offspring, Martha and Vic Riden III, who obtained his bachelor’s from Mercer University and his master’s from Vanderbilt University. The Riden family holds strong ties to UGA, both historically and looking forward. Two of Vic’s three children are currently registered, and the family has been steadfast supporters, benefactors, and football season ticket holders since the mid-1960s.

Vic is a retired managing partner at the consulting firm Accenture and a devoted volunteer for numerous nonprofit organizations in Georgia. He initiated the Dance 2.0 fundraising effort with a matching contribution. The aim was to encourage potential donors to give, knowing that their contributions would be matched by the amount Vic donated, thereby amplifying their influence.

As it turned out, the campaign — and Vic’s contribution — resonated with the Athens and dance community. In merely four months, the funds Vic supplied were completely matched by additional donations, designed to catalyze the further fundraising needed for the department’s transformation.

“I perceive the dance department as an underdog on campus, so I was confident my parents would support my decision to back this concealed UGA treasure and motivate others to contribute to the program in their honor,” Vic remarked.

“They were both modest, industrious individuals with compassionate hearts and a commitment to helping others,” he added. “I hope that by naming the renovated lobby after them, it conveys to people that any one of us can create significant change, particularly when collaborating with an organization like UGA.”

Revitalizing spaces, renewing energy

As the new leader of the dance department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Rebecca Gose’s guidance has been crucial in launching the Dance 2.0 revitalization initiative.

“This transformation initiative is set to address a multitude of our needs, but chiefly we seek to enhance the dance program’s impact and significance both within the dance community, across the campus, and beyond,” she expressed.

Enhancing the program’s impact will entail a variety of efforts, from improving recruitment materials and updating the program website to renovating the department’s facilities to better assist students and faculty. The Riden Lobby marks the initial step in ushering in a new age of opportunities for the department.

The newly polished hardwood floors now sparkle, having been revealed after decades concealed beneath a heavy carpet. Fresh paint and newly designed collaborative areas for students infuse vitality into a historic setting. Restoring and renovating the Dance Building has cultivated an environment where students can flourish, learn, and excel while being supported by the surrounding dance community.

“One of our students recently stated that thanks to the renovations, the interior of our building now mirrors the enthusiasm and priority of the students, staff, audiences, and donors,” Gose noted.

It was a full-circle moment when the Riden Lobby was inaugurated before the department’s spring show. For Rebecca and the dance department, it signified that their envisioned future for dance at UGA is achievable with the assistance of donors, the community, and beyond. For Vic, it was a time of reflection regarding his parents — their influence on him, and now, their impact on students.

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