Daniel Lewis (choreographer)

Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Florida. December 14th 2012

In 1987, Lewis joined the New World School of the Arts of the Miami Dade College as founding Dean of the Dance Department. He created the dance division's eight-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program which begins in the ninth grade. In 1988, he formed Miami Dance Futures, Inc., a production company for the Miami Balanchine Conference, the Dance History Scholars’ Conference, the National High School Dance Festival and the Daniel Lewis Dance Sampler.

Lewis joined the dance faculty of the Juilliard School in 1967, and was Assistant to the Director of the Dance, Martha Hill, at the Juilliard School between 1984 and 1987. He was also an adjunct professor at New York University and a professor at Amherst College for six years while his company was in residence there.

From 1966 to 1988, Lewis choreographed 24 choreographic works for such schools and companies as, Towson State College, Swarthmore College, The José Limón Dance Company, Barnard College, Teachers' College, the University of Michigan, Hampshire College, The New World School of the Arts, The Juilliard School, The University of Calgary, Portland State, American Wind Symphony, Lincoln Center Student Programs, Reed College, UCLA, Tsoying Senior High School, Daniel Lewis Dance, Contemporary Dance System, New World School of the Arts, as well as companies in South America and England. He choreographed operas for the American Opera Center at Lincoln Center, The Houston Grand Opera, and the Dallas Civic Opera.Danny created the following dance works from 1966 to 1988: • 1966: Man Made (Barnard College) • 1967: The Minding of the Flesh Is Death (Lincoln Center Student Programs) • 1970: The Bokinski Brothers (Barnard College) • 1972: My Echo, My Shadow, and Me (NEA Choreographic Fellowship, Barnard College) • 1972: Irving the Terrific (UCLA) • 1974: And First They Slaughtered the Angels (Contemporary Dance System) • 1974: No Strings (Barnard College) • 1976: Cabbage Patch (American Wind Symphony) • 1976: Proliferation (Juilliard School) • 1978: Life and Other Things (Daniel Lewis Dance: A Repertory Company) • 1979: Mostly Beethoven (Juilliard School) • 1980: Beethoven Duet (Benefit Concert Honoring Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman) • 1980: There’s Nothing Here of Me but Me (Amherst College) • 1981: Open Book (Daniel Lewis Dance: A Repertory Company) • 1982: Moments (The Juilliard School) • 1982: To Doris and Charles (Portland State) • 1984: Textured Lighting (Daniel Lewis Dance: A Repertory Company) • 1984: Atomic Ambience (University of Calgary) • 1985: Women (Juilliard School) • 1985: Mind over Matter (Bennington College Summer Dance Program) • 1986: Bibleland (The University of Calgary) • 1987: Air Raid (SUNY Purchase) • 1988: The Morning after the Night Before (Towson State College)

Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York; he graduated from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Formally High School of Performing Arts in 1962 and Juilliard in 1967. For twelve years beginning in 1962, he danced with the José Limón Dance Company originating many roles. As Limón's assistant, Lewis completed the choreography of the Waldstein Sonata, which Limón had not finished before his death. In addition Lewis danced with the companies of Ruth Currier, Felix Fibich, Stuart Hodes, Sofie Maslow, David Wood, Norman Walker, Matthew Diamond, Charles Weidman, Anna Sokolow, American Dance Theater, The Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Contemporary Dance System, Daniel Lewis Dance, plus others. He danced in the Yiddish Theatre from 1960 to 1964. He danced in the CBS Productions of AND DAVID WEPT, choreography by José Limón, DREAMS, choreography Anna Sokolow, and many LAMP UNTO MY FEET, CAMERA THREE, and PBS, WNET (NYC) programs.

Daniel Lewis (born July 12, 1944) is a choreographer and author, and Dean of Dance at the New World School of the Arts. Internationally recognized dancer, teacher, choreographer and author. Danny is often seen sporting suspenders with the classic Julliard hat.