On Dec. 23, 2021, a crowd overflowed from The Price Center’s 1910 Room as family and friends gathered around a tiny, vibrant woman dressed like a queen.
The woman, Sara Carpenter, received her guests with bright-eyed smiles, including Dr. Denise Trauth, president of Texas State University, and Mayor Jane Hughson, who presented Carpenter with a certificate commemorating her 100th birthday. As the event progressed, Carpenter’s family and friends continued to file in, necessitating the addition of more tables and chairs to accommodate them. All the while — flanked by her daughters Dr. Cindy Gratz and Lani Hill — Carpenter continued to observe them with the poise borne from a long life’s experiences as well as a dancer’s grace.
Carpenter is a member of the Price Time Dancers, a troupe that formed in 2015 with choreography based on the abilities and interests of those who attend rehearsals. Dr. Gratz brought the group to the Price Center in 2017, which helped bring more dance offerings to the center since its inception.
