Dance History

Collage of 3 women educators

Dance Herstories: Three Inspiring Women Share How They Are Using History to Expand the Dance Education Landscape

April Deocariza

History Quiz: Ann Miller

Rachel Straus

Ann Miller: The Dancer With Million Dollar Legs

Rachel Straus

Katherine Dunham Fused Together Dance and Anthropology

Rachel Rizzuto

A group of four dancers arranged in a line on a dark stage all complete matching stag jumps with their arms lifted across their body. All dancers wear dark calf-length bottoms and tank tops.

Martha Graham: American Modern Dance Pioneer

Jenny Dalzell

Black and white photo of Tally Beatty and other dancers in a standing tableau pose centering around Beatty who lays on the floor. Men wear light colored pants and no shirt. Women wear long dresses with lace-lined jackets and large headpieces.

Talley Beatty: One of Modern Dance’s First Black Choreographers

Rachel Straus

History Quiz: Talley Beatty

Rachel Straus

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson: Boundary-Breaking Tap Dancer

Rachel Rizzuto

Black and white photo of Loie Fuller in a field. She holds her arms out to support large, floor-length fabric wings on either side of her.

Special Effects Visionary: Loie Fuller

Susan Chitwood

Maria Tallchief teaches class. She stands in front of a female student, mirroring her position with an outstretched front arm. She wears a dark sweater and her hair is pulled back.

Balanchine’s First Sugar Plum Fairy: Maria Tallchief

Margaret Fuhrer