Honoring Joan Myers Brown: Women's History Month, "I Fall in Love With Dance"

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey 

In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest: Joan Myers Brown during Women's History Month.

Listen in with Ms. Brown (who is 92 years young) shares her story that began as a young dancer living in segregated America who became determined to create opportunities for black dancers. Ms. Brown emphasizes the power and essence of dance as a form of expression and the life lessons it teaches. She is a lady who will inspire you to do and be your best!

Joan Myers Brown (affectionately known as “Aunt Joan” or “JB”) is the founder of The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts in 1960 and The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!) in 1970.  She serves as honorary chairperson for the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), established in 1991, an organization that she laid the groundwork for in 1988 with the founding of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies.  She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which bestowed upon her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts; is a member of the dance faculty at Howard University in Washington, DC; and awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. In May 2015, she received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Listed in Who’s Who in America and described as an “innovator and communicator,” Ms. Brown has made significant contributions to arts communities locally, regionally, nationally and throughout the world. 

Joan Myers Brown’s undisputed status as a leader in the national and international arts communities were acknowledged when she was selected to receive the 2012 National Medal of the Arts, the nation’s highest civic honor for excellence in the arts. President Barack Obama presented the prestigious honor at a ceremony that took place in July 2013 at the White House. President Obama cited Ms. Brown for carving out “an artistic haven for African American dancers and choreographers to innovate, create, and share their unique visions with the national and global dance communities.”

In May 2020, Ms. Brown celebrated two landmark achievements – PHILADANCO!’s  50th year and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts’ 60th year.  She as recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Recognition from the Martha Hill Awards Gala.

Find out more about Joan Myers Brown and Philadanco:

https://philadanco.org/about/

@philadanco

@philaschoolofdancearts

@joanmyersbrown

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“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey

"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."