JoAnne first remembers dancing as a toddler to her grandmother’s piano playing in the large living room in a house filled with musicians. After taking creative movement classes as a child, and studying in summer dance camp/programs, she continued her dance education in New York, first at the Graham Studio and later at The Juilliard School where she studied choreography with Louis Horst. She then focused on theater at the University of Pittsburgh followed by graduate study in theater at the University of Wisconsin. She completed her Ph.D. in 1973 with her dissertation examining how creative movement and creative dramatics can be tools in developing reading readiness. Living in Tallahassee, Florida, JoAnne founded The Avodah Dance Ensemble and then several years later based the company in New York City where it was in-residence at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Toward the end of a 33-year career as artistic director, and choreographer of The Avodah Dance Ensemble, JoAnne found herself leading residencies in women’s correctional institutions with the company. These experiences profoundly resonated with her and she continued to do work using movement in women’s prisons and jails. The impact of meeting women who had murdered their abusers led her to form a non-profit film company Healing Voices – Personal Stories when she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. By creating films of domestic violence survivors who have successfully rebuilt their lives, JoAnne hopes to help prevent victims from going from a prison of a relationship to a prison of barbed wire, bars and concrete blocks. Healing Voices – Personal Stories has completed 10 short films.
Healing Voices – Personal Stories produced “Through the Door: Movement and Meditation as Part of Healing.” In this film JoAnne brings her dance work directly to domestic violence survivors as well as to the film world. All the films have been in Film Festival and often have won prizes. Use this link to view the films.
JoAnne regularly appeared at “Q and A’s” when films of Healing Voices – Personal Stories are presented. In the fall of 2016 she did a TEDxABQ talk on her work in teaching dance in jails/prisons and how that led to the formation of the film company.
In January of 2020 JoAnne moved to Atenas, Costa Rica where she continues painting and writing. She has begun an artist in residency program to share her beautiful property with artists who want some concentrated time to work on a project. A local writing group grew our of one of the residencies and meets weekly at the house. The arts community in Atenas is growing and JoAnne is glad to be a part of it.
JoAnne is thrilled that Kezia has agreed to edit this blog. Kezia played an important role in Avodah’s history — performing and teaching, contributing to company choreography, and writing for/editing the Avodah Newsletter. JoAnne and Kezia have co-led workshops and authored articles together. (They also spent many years touring together, staying up too late talking and laughing a lot.)
Kezia is from Poughkeepsie, NY where she received her early dance training from Tom Adair. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College, where she earned a B.A. in English and NYS Certification to teach (grades 7 – 12,) and where she studied ballet with Jeanne Periolat Czula. She holds a fine arts degree in dance from Adelphi University and a master’s degree in Adolescent Education from Hunter College. She performed and taught with Avodah from 1987 to 1999 and was Assistant Rehearsal Director, and Editor of the Avodah Newsletter. She later served on the Avodah Board and set Avodah repertory pieces on new company members. She currently studies ballet in Poughkeepsie with Kathy McDonald, who coincidentally was one of the earliest member of Avodah.