Jane Fox (November 30, 1899 – February 16, 1991) was an American dancer, choreographer, and educator. She founded the modern dance program at Indiana University, where she taught in the physical education department from 1927 to 1965.
Jane Fox | |
|---|---|
 Jane Fox, from a 1959 publication | |
| Born | November 30, 1899 Clay County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 1991 (aged 91) Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Occupations | Dancer, choreographer, college professor |
Early life and education
editFox was born in Clay County, Kentucky, the daughter of Uyles Jefferson Fox and Mittie Hammock Fox. Her father was a Baptist minister. She graduated from Columbia University in 1927. She completed a master's degree at Indiana University in 1934.[1] She pursued further studies in modern dance in Vienna,[2] and during summers at Bennington College.[3]
Career
editFox taught in the physical education program at Indiana University[4] beginning in 1927. She became an assistant professor in 1933, and an associate professor in 1951. She taught modern dance at Indiana,[2][5] helped found the school's dance major in 1949,[3][6] and directed the school's modern dance troupe.[7][8] She choreographed a campus production of Wagner's Parsifal, and a dance concert, The Book of Ruth, which was broadcast on Indianapolis television. She retired from Indiana University in 1965.[2] In 1987 she was honored at a banquet marking the IU dance program's 60th anniversary.[9]
Fox chaired the dance section of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance from 1951 to 1953, and chaired the National Committee on Standards in Teacher Education in Dance.[6][10] In retirement, she continued teaching exercise classes in the community.[11]
Publications
editPersonal life
editFox died in 1991, at the age of 91.[14] Her papers are in the Indiana University Archives. Although the modern dance program she founded in IU's physical education department ended in 1991,[6][14] the school's Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance now offers a dance major again,[6] and awards a Jane Fox Dance Scholarship in her memory.[15]
References
edit- ↑ Kaverman, Ellie. "Advancing Women in Athletics Pre-Title IX: Jane Fox 1899-1991". – Voices from the IU Bicentennial. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- 1 2 3 "Modern Dance Won't Be the Same at I.U.; After 38 Years Teaching Mrs. Jane Fox Retiring". The Herald-Times. 1965-05-13. p. 34. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Dean, Alicia (1987-01-09). "Jane Fox to be honored at festival banquet". The Herald-Times. p. 29. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "I.U.'s Dance Workshop to Give Convocation". Indianapolis Times. May 15, 1951. p. 11 – via Hoosier State Chronicles.
- ↑ "49 Co-Eds To Take Part in May Festival". The Indianapolis Times. 1930-05-17. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Ferrara, Amanda (2016-03-15). "IU's Contemporary Dance Program". IUB Libraries. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- ↑ "Indiana University's Annual Christmas Program". The Herald-Times. 1959-12-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Jane Fox Offers I.U. Dancers at Y.W. on Friday". Indianapolis Times. April 10, 1939. p. 5 – via Hoosier State Chronicles.
- ↑ Royce, Anya Peterson (1987-01-19). "Dance takes a bow in American College festival". The Herald-Times. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Dance Section Candidates 1959". Journal of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. 30 (2): 73–74. February 1959 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ Sanders, Craig (1987-04-16). "Retired professor still on the move". The Herald-Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Fox, Jane. "Let's Go Modern" Physical Educator 3(2)(January 1943): 56.
- ↑ Fox, Jane (December 1946). "The Shortage of Dance Teachers". The Journal of Health and Physical Education. 17 (10): 593–634. doi:10.1080/23267240.1946.10626721. ISSN 2326-7240.
- 1 2 Mills, Kathleen (1991-04-28). "IU's modern dance program to come to an end next week". The Times-Mail. p. 33. Retrieved 2026-04-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Jane Fox Dance Scholarships". Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance. Retrieved 2026-04-08.