Joe V Nash

Born during the Harlem Renaissance

Joseph Nash grew up during the Harlem Renaissance, surrounded by artists such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Duke Ellington. The Harlem Renaissance was a center of cultural and artistic creativity, giving rise to a whole school of modern dance and choreography. Inspired by African dancing and traditional spiritual music, dancers such as Nash began creating new dance styles, weaving culture, modern dance, and spiritual music into one.

The start of his dancing career: one among trailblazers

First being called to duty in World War II, Nash started reading, learning, and observing the dance movement in New York upon his return in the 1940s. Before going on stage, he read Dance Magazine in the New York Times. A child of the Renaissance, he performed with a few trailblazers of New York, including Pearl Primus, who was known for her spiritual and protest dances. Pearl Primus, who often worked with Langston Hughes poetry, was also inspired by anthropological studies of Africa and the social dynamic of the Harlem Renaissance. Nash performed all over the country as a principal dance in her company from 1946-1947. He then first performed on Broadway in Showboat in 1946, and in London in Finian’s Rainbow. Later, Nash became a member of Donald McKayle’s company, another African American choreographer of New York. He became a regular in Broadway originals, performing in My Darlin' Aida, Flahooley, and Bless You All. He also danced with Alvin Ailey in 1954 when he danced in House of Flowers, choreographed by famous Pearl Bailey. Starting in 1948, Joseph Nash became a dance instructor at Marion Cuyjet’s Judimar School of Dance in Philadelphia. His classes became famous in the city dance scene. One of his most talented students, Judith Jamison, became a world-famous dancer, becoming the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Arthur Hall, a dancer and archivist, was also one of his students.

Contributions as a historian

Having declared himself as a teacher and self-taught dancer, he became most famous as a dance historian. Returning to New York, Nash began to fastidiously collect books, articles, recordings, interviews, rare issues of dance magazines, and newspapers. Using his apartment as a contribution to dance history, he documented black dance memorabilia over decades, spreading everything throughout his apartment. Having danced with the most important and well-known dancers and choreographers of his time, Nash’s knowledge of black dance made him an expert. His apartment is located in Harlem, the location where he began dancing. Now as a familiar figure in New York dance, Nash was often questioned for his dance knowledge and experience. Dance Magazine and the New York Times often quoted him and his contributions to dance magazines and the newspaper. He also gave commentary and photographs to The Black Tradition in American Dance. He also became a historian for the American Dance Festival, giving lectures nationwide and becoming a consultant for the PBS documentary Free to Dance in 2001.

A tragic ending

With a life dedicated to dance history and the collection of memorabilia, the massive amounts of books and data in his apartment may have contributed to his death. In 2004, he tripped and fell in his apartment, pinned to the floor by a stack of books. He died a few months later at the beginning of 2005 from cardiovascular difficulties, at age 85. As a passionate member of the dance community, his death leaves a hole in the memory of Harlem dance and culture. He will always be remembered for his dedication to black dance, renowned by universities and dance organizations throughout the country and worldwide.