Alumni of Notable Achievement: Patrick Scully

Patrick Scully (BA '76, biology, society & environment; German) is a Minneapolis-based choreographer, dancer, and performance artist whose work has shaped the Twin Cities arts community for more than five decades. He began dancing in 1972 and co-founded Contactworks, a Minneapolis dance collective, before embarking on a lifelong pursuit of art as a vehicle for identity, courage, and community. As the founder and longtime director of Patrick's Cabaret, he created a vital space that supported hundreds of artists and gave visibility to voices that had long been marginalized. 

A pioneering figure in LGBTQ+ arts and activism, Scully has lived and worked with the conviction that authentic self-expression is itself an act of service. His impact on the Twin Cities and beyond is the subject of the 2025 documentary film "The Dance Is Not Over." CLA alumni embody excellence at every level, and Patrick Scully exemplifies what it means to use a liberal arts education as a foundation for a life of purpose, creativity, and courageous impact.