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Joan Peters

1939-2022

Joan Peters was born in New York City and started dancing at the age of six with Syvilla Fort at the Katherine Dunham School of Theatre Dance. Her performing career was extensive, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and numerous films. In addition to teaching Dunham technique she modeled extensively. Ms. Peters also directed the Syvilla Fort School of Theatre Dance and was the Director of the Syvilla Fort Dance Company. She taught at the Harkness House of Ballet, Holy Family Academy, the Arts Connection, Program for the Retarded, Class for Deaf pre-School and Grade school, and Alvin Ailey’s former program for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Ms. Peters was the Chairperson for the Dunham Technique at The Ailey School from 1978 until 2019. Ms. Peters passed away in 2022.