Germaine Ingram facts for kids

Germaine Ingram is an amazing American lawyer, dancer, and choreographer. She made history in 1972. She was the first Black woman to become a full-time teacher at Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. Before that, she worked for Judge Theodore Spaulding in Pennsylvania's Supreme Court. Germaine Ingram has also won many awards for her dance work. These include the Rocky Award from DanceUSA in 2011 and the Tap Preservation Award in 2016.

Germaine Ingram's Early Life and Education

Germaine Ingram went to Syracuse University. She also studied law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. While there, she helped with civil rights research. She even did more studies at Harvard University.

After finishing school, Ingram worked as a lawyer for 30 years. She focused on helping children, improving schools, and supporting the arts. She also fought against unfair treatment at work. She worked to make sure everyone had equal chances. In 1994, she became the chief of staff for Philadelphia's school superintendent. She worked hard to get fair funding for schools in poorer areas.

Discovering a Passion for Tap Dance

In her early thirties, Germaine Ingram found a new passion: tap dancing. She was taught by a great dancer named LaVaughn Robinson. Ingram said learning from him was "all hard." Robinson often danced without music, which was a big challenge for her.

Ingram created two important dance shows. One was called "Stepping in Time." It celebrated amazing African American tap dancers from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The show opened in Philadelphia in 1995. Ingram was the director, organizer, and a performer in it. Her other big work was "Plenty of Good Women Dancers" (1996). This show was inspired by brave Black female dancers from the Swing Era. This was a time after the Harlem Renaissance.

Germaine Ingram's Career

Her Career in Law

Germaine Ingram finished law school in 1971. She then worked for a judge in Pennsylvania's Supreme Court. In 1972, she became the first Black woman to teach full-time at Temple University School of Law.

Ingram practiced law for 30 years, from 1971 to 2001. She worked on important issues like child welfare and school improvements. She also fought for fairness in the workplace. She defended people who faced discrimination. In 1994, she used her legal skills to help Philadelphia's public schools. She made sure that schools in poorer areas received fair funding.

Her Career in Dance and the Arts

In 1980, when she was 33, Ingram decided to focus on dance. She was mentored by LaVaughn Robinson. He encouraged her to find her own dance style. In 1984, she performed with Robinson at a big festival. By 1985, she was performing all over the country. In 1989, she was even on a special PBS television show called "Tap Dance in America." This show won an Emmy Award!

In the early 1990s, Ingram started a project about the history of tap dance. This project became the stage show "Stepping in Time." It honored Black artists from the 1920s to the 1950s. In 1996, Ingram helped create a documentary. It was called "Plenty Of Good Women Dancers: African American Women Hoofers from Philadelphia." This film showed how Black female dancers succeeded despite many challenges. Ingram also became a choreographer for dance companies. She worked with LaVaughn Robinson for 25 years.

In 2005, she wrote an article about Louise Madison. Madison was a performer who challenged old ideas about dance. She danced like men, wore male dance clothes, and was very brave. In 2010, Ingram also helped write "Parallel Destinies." This piece looked at the history of enslaved African Americans.

In 2012 and 2013, Ingram created a performance about a church in Philadelphia. In 2014, she worked with a musician on a project called "Freedom Underfoot." This project remembered the Battle of Atlanta. Later that year, Ingram was a visiting artist in Brazil.

Awards and Community Involvement

Germaine Ingram has been involved in many important groups:

• She served on the board for the Leeway Foundation and Arts Nova Workshop.
• She was part of the Public Art Committee in Philadelphia.
• She was on an international advisory board for Brandeis University.
• She was also part of the Leadership Circle for IMPACT, which supports the arts.

She has received several special awards:

• 2010: She won the Pew Fellowship in the Arts. This award goes to amazing artists in the Philadelphia area.
• 2012: She received an award from the Philadelphia Folklore Project.
• 2012: She also won the Arts & Change Award from the Leeway Foundation.