Schwarz, Josephine L., 1908-2004.

Josephine Lindman Schwarz, also known as Miss Jo, the grande dame of dance and founder of the Dayton Ballet, was born on April 8, 1908, in Dayton, Ohio. She founded the Schwarz School of Dance with her sister Hermene in 1927. In 1937, they founded the Experimental Group for Young Dancers, which eventually became known as the Dayton Ballet, one of the oldest regional companies in the United States. She retired in 1984 and moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1994. She died February 27, 2004.

From the description of Josephine L. Schwarz papers, 1905-1999. (University of Dayton). WorldCat record id: 489215887

Josephine Lindman Schwarz, the grande dame of dance and founder of the Dayton Ballet, was born on April 8, 1908, in Dayton, Ohio.

Miss Jo, as she was known in the dance world, began her dance career at 8 years of age. Initially, her dance classes served as physical therapy following her bout with the mumps. Her lessons helped her to rebuild her strength and regain her balance. Her therapy became a passion by age 14.

After her father's business went bankrupt, Miss Jo began teaching to raise money for her lessons. While in high school, she and her sister, Miss Hermene, spent vacations and summers studying dance with Adolph Bolm in Chicago. While there, Miss Jo danced with Ruth Page's Ravinia Opera Ballet.

In 1927, the sisters started the Schwarz School of Dance. Ten years later they founded the Experimental Group for Young Dancers. After several name changes, the dance company became known as the Dayton Ballet. The Dayton Ballet is one of the oldest regional companies in the United States.

Miss Jo fell in love with modern dance after witnessing a moving performance by the German modern dancers, Yvonne Georgi and Harold Kreutzberg. During the summers of 1929 and 1930, the sisters went to Germany and Austria to study modern dance with Mary Wigman and her disciples. From there, Miss Jo went to New York City to work with Charles Weidmann and Doris Humphrey. She returned to teach with Miss Hermene in 1937 after a knee injury ended her professional dance career. They taught ballet and modern dance, which was unheard of at the time.

Miss Jo taught and choreographed for the Schwarz School and Dayton Ballet for over 30 years and continued as an administrator until her retirement in 1984. Even after she left, she was still involved with the company as a mentor and founder. In 1980 she turned the job of director and choreographer over to Stuart Sebastian, a former student.

In 1994, Miss Jo moved to Boulder, Colorado, to be closer to her family. However, she often returned to Dayton to visit her beloved Dayton Ballet. She died February 27, 2004, in Boulder, Colorado.

From the guide to the Josephine L. Schwarz papers, 1905-1999, (University of Dayton)