Joan Miller (choreographer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joan Miller
Born	September 30, 1936 Harlem, New York City
Died	March 23, 2014(2014-03-23) (aged 77)
Nationality	American
Education	Brooklyn College; Teachers College, Columbia University; Juilliard School
Occupation	Dancer, choreographer, educator
Years active	1970–2007
Known for	Artistic director of the Joan Miller Chamber Arts/Dance Players

Joan Miller was an amazing American dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She lived from 1936 to 2014. Joan led her own dance company, The Joan Miller Chamber Arts/Dance Players, for many years (1970-2007). Her company used dance and other art forms to share ideas about society. They often used humor to talk about important social issues. Joan Miller also started and directed the dance program at Lehman College from 1970 to 2000.

Joan Miller's Early Life

Joan Ann Bernadette Theresa Floissac was born on September 30, 1936. Her birthplace was Harlem, a famous neighborhood in New York City. Her mother, Beryl, came from Jamaica. Her father, Hubert, had family roots in St. Lucia.

Joan started dancing when she was young. She joined a Girl Scout troop on 135th Street. After high school, her parents wanted her to have a steady job. So, they encouraged her to become a teacher.

She went to Brooklyn College and graduated in 1958. She earned a degree in physical education. Later, in 1960, she got a master's degree in dance education. This was from Teachers College, Columbia University. Right after that, she studied at the famous Juilliard School. She even received a special scholarship called the John Hay Whitney fellowship.

Joan Miller's Dance Career

In the 1960s, while at Juilliard, Joan began dancing with Ruth Currier's company. This led her to perform as a guest dancer with other famous groups. She danced with companies led by José Limón and Anna Sokolow. She was also part of the Lincoln Center American Dance Theatre Company.

During the summers, Joan studied with important modern dance choreographers. These included Doris Humphrey and José Limón. She also learned from Louis Horst in New York. In 1964, Joan started dancing with the Rod Rodgers Dance Company.

From 1965 to 1968, Miller worked with many creative artists. These included James Waring, Remy Charlip, Yvonne Rainer, and Rudy Perez. These artists were part of the Judson Dance Theater. This group was known for its new and experimental dance styles. Joan Miller was one of the first choreographers to mix dance with ideas about race, gender, and social problems. She used the modern styles from the Judson Church scene.

Creating Robot Game

In 1969, Joan began to create a piece called Robot Game. This dance was a way to criticize how people sometimes try to fit in too much. It showed how people might act like robots if they always follow what others do. Robot Game was first performed by talented dancers. These included Milton Bowser (who later became Abdel R. Salaam), Chuck Davis, William R. Munroe, and Wanda Ward.

Teaching Dance at Lehman College

After teaching for a year at Smith College in 1963, Joan got a new job. She was hired to teach modern and folk dance at a college campus in the Bronx. This campus later became Lehman College in 1968.

In 1970, Joan Miller became the director of Lehman's dance program. She helped create new degrees for dance students there. Lehman College was the first CUNY school to have a dance program. She led this program for 30 years!

Founding Her Own Dance Company

In that same year, 1970, Joan started her own company. It was called The Joan Miller Chamber Arts/Dance Players. She also premiered her most famous solo dance, Pass Fe White. She had been working on this special dance since 1968.

Joan brought many professional artists from New York City to teach at Lehman. These teachers included Chuck Davis, Yon Martin, Miguel Godreau, and Louis Falco. She also invited famous choreographers to create dances for the Lehman students. Some of these were Eleo Pomare, Rael Lamb, and even Alvin Ailey. Alvin Ailey choreographed his famous piece Revelations there.

Performances and Recognition

In June 1975, Joan Miller's company performed at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. This is a very famous dance festival. By then, her company had performed in many well-known places. These included the Delacorte Theatre, Japan House, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. They also performed regularly at Lehman College.

In 2005, the company celebrated its 35th anniversary with a concert. Their final concert was held in 2007.

Awards and Honors

Joan Miller received many awards and honors for her work. These included the Thelma Hill Dance Award and the Living Legend Award. She also received a special recognition from David Dinkins, who was the mayor of New York at the time.

Joan Miller's Death

Joan Miller passed away on March 23, 2014. She was 77 years old.

Noted Dance Works

Here are some of the dance pieces Joan Miller created:

• Protest (1960)
• Freudian Slips/Egomania
• Robot Game/Hereabout the Little Hazards (1969)
• Pass Fe White (1970)
• Homestretch (1972)
• The BUMPS (Black Upwardly Mobile Professionals)/Modern Black Businessman (1974)
• Thoroughfare (1974)
• Gender Hues
• Boots, Backtalk, and Beyond

Images for kids

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  Pass Fe White 1970