| Title: | Student-Athlete; Tennis |
| Year: | 2003 |
Ian Robinson, 2003, Tennis
Ian Robinson graduated from Brewer High School in 2003, leaving behind a legacy as the greatest tennis player in the school’s history. Over his four-year varsity career as the #1 singles player, Robinson was undefeated during the regular season with a record of 48-0 as well as undefeated in team playoffs with a record of 4-0. In the Maine Principals’ Association State Singles Tournament his four-year record was 22-2 with an overall career record of 74-2, an astounding winning percentage of 97.4. As a young tennis player, Robinson ranked as high as 19th in the 16 & Under Division of the New England Junior Tennis Association.
Robinson competed in four State Singles Tournaments. He was a quarterfinalist his freshman year, losing to the eventual state champion. He was the state runner-up his junior year. These were the only two losses of his impressive tennis career at Brewer High School. In his sophomore and senior seasons, he was crowned the state champion in straight set wins, not dropping a set in either year’s competition.
Robinson received two Certificates of Commendation from the City of Brewer recognizing his outstanding career in tennis. He was a four-time Kennebec Valley All-Star and the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram Tennis Most Valuable Player in both 2001 and 2003.
According to Philip Burns, Robinson’s high school tennis coach, “Over his four years, he grew from a smaller, consistent and strategically smart player to a tall, overpowering and imposing champion. He led by example and worked incredibly hard at his craft. Before and after practices, he could be seen working on his game. He spent much time perfecting his technique and testing his mental toughness.”
Ian Robinson is the son of Keith and Maureen Robinson, retired co-artistic directors of the Robinson Ballet Company, where Ian trained, danced and performed from the age of 3. Dance and tennis were complementary passions. Dean Armstrong of Bangor Tennis Club stated in September 1998, “Dancing complements tennis; the footwork, the moves... and timing. It really has merit. If I were his coach… no way would he stop dancing.” To excel in both tennis and dance as he has is an extraordinary example of a truly disciplined athlete and artist.
Robinson graduated from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After graduation, he danced with various companies and projects including Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Hell’s Kitchen Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Sydney Dance Company and Aszure Barton & Artists. From 2009 to 2017, Robinson danced full time with Tel Aviv’s Batsheva Dance Company under the artistic leadership of Ohad Naharin, one of the world’s preeminent contemporary choreographers. Robinson now continues independently to develop himself as a dancer, creator, teacher and videographer. He is a certified Gaga teacher, a movement language developed by Naharin that sensitizes dancers to the space around them and to the workings of their bodies. Currently residing in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ian Robinson also stages Ohad Naharin’s works and leads classes and workshops for dance communities around the world.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF IAN ROBINSON
Accepting the award on behalf of Ian Robinson
His Parents Keith and Maureen Robinson