Tag: joan myers brown

Remembering Pioneering Ballerina Delores Browne, 1935–2023

Ballerina and teacher Delores Browne Abelson, known professionally as Delores Browne, transitioned on October 2, 2023. Her close friend, Marilyn Napoli, confirmed that Browne had battled kidney cancer for several months. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Browne started her love affair with ballet in middle school. In 1949, she was awarded a scholarship by Marion Cuyjet, […]

Joan Myers Brown on the Dance Scholarships That Are Expanding Opportunities for Young Black Artists

Dance legend Joan Myers Brown, Philadelphia-born and -bred, founded the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts in 1960 to train Black dancers, who at the time had little opportunity to train in dance (particularly ballet) at segregated dance studios. Ten years later she founded the now renowned modern dance company PHILADANCO for similar reasons. Myers Brown […]