Josie Metal-Corbin, M.Ed.

choreographer, dancer, director, dance educator

REVIEWS

"Another fascinating work was Josie Metal-Corbin’s "3 Women: A Poet, A Cellist & Me", Metal-Corbin offered some of the most nuanced dancing of the evening as she performed a complex solo that evoked images of the poem."

Kyle Macmillan, Omaha World-Herald, November 6, 1998.

"3 Women: A Poet, A Cellist & Me," was a very important contribution and had an important role in representing American dance."

Ana Macara, Coordinator, "Continents in Movement" conference, Lisbon, Portugal

"This artist is producing mature work that speaks richly to the individual viewer and the community of people out of which the choreography has developed."

Joan Hayes, Director of Dance, Southwest Texas State University, Adjudicator for the National Dance Association’s, Choreographic Evaluation Project

"This choreographer, usually using dancers who vary widely in age and abilities, is somehow able to extract the essence of an idea and make it not merely understandable but intriguing as well. She makes it all seem so simple and clear that it would be well to remember how difficult this is to achieve. Her works demonstrate knowledge, imagination, and the ability to strike an emotional chord in creative and interesting ways."

Andrea Shearer, Asst. Prof., Kent State University, Adjudicator for the National Dance Association’s, Choreographic Evaluation Project

"(This)…choreography was a delight to the audiences that viewed her work and to the students who learned her movement. Her input to the students was a significant contribution to their development as professionals as well as to their development as well rounded humans of the 21st century."

Janice Baker, Iowa State University Dance Program

" . . . a thoroughly usable guide for joyful activities for senior citizens."

Margaret Mains, past president National Dance Association, review of Reach for It by David Corbin and Josie Metal-Corbin, in the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

" The book is appropriate for older adults themselves and those who lead older adults in health, exercise, and dance programs. It would make an excellent teaching tool in fields such as physical education, exercise physiology, dance education, dance therapy, health education, gerontology, recreation, and sports medicine."

Review of Reach for It by David Corbin and Josie Metal-Corbin in Newsletter of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

INTRODUCTION

Josie Metal-Corbin has been a choreographer, teacher, and modern dance performer since 1967. She has directed two modern dance companies during the past 30 years and has served in the roles of founder, assistant director, associate director, director as well as grant writer, budget director, costume and lighting designer, and residency sponsor. She has collaborated with private and public organizations on concerts and projects that were intergenerational, international and multicultural. Metal-Corbin has been a Nebraska Arts Council "Artist in the Schools/Community" since 1983 and has been designated as a "Master Artist" by the National Dance Association. She has a firm commitment to make dance accessible to all ages and abilities. She has produced, directed and disseminated performance and educational videotapes promoting intergenerational and multicultural approaches to dance. She has conducted research on integrating dance and aging into the curriculum, co-authored a book Reach for It: A Handbook of Health, Exercise and Dance Activities for Older Adults , published in refereed dance and gerontological journals, written three book chapters and has given scholarly papers and presentations throughout the United States, Great Britain, Portugal and Canada in the area of dance and elders. Currently, she is a Professor in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at the University of Nebraska at Omaha teaching modern, jazz, ballet, multicultural dance, dance methods classes for physical education majors and undergraduate and graduate stress management. She is the Director of the University’s "The Moving Company" which is a modern dance company that was founded in 1937.

 

PHILOSOPHY

Metal-Corbin’s philosophy in dance has always been to include all levels of dancers in her choreographic work; to make the art of modern dance inclusive. Her teaching and her choreography are often multicultural, intergenerational, and multidisciplinary in nature. Typically, she does not work with the highly trained, virtuoso dancer majoring in dance but rather with performers (students or members of the community) who come from many different backgrounds with interests that range from criminal justice to childcare to engineering. Her work, however, is not limited to intergenerational choreography as she has been commissioned to make many solo and group works for university and private dance companies.

 

 

 

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Metal-Corbin was:

  • The UNO Moving Company was selected to participate in the Dance Grand Prix Italia, with Mary Waugh Taylor Dancers (Omaha), and Young Dancers in Repertory (New York City). The Moving Company was awarded second place in the Dance Theatre category. Cesena, Italy, Bonci Theatre, June, 2001.

  • Selected as one of three Americans to perform her piece "3 Women: A Poet, A Cellist & Me" at the "Continents in Movement" international dance conference in Oeiras, Portugal, Teatro Eunice Munoz, October 16, 1998.

  • This choreography was also invited to be presented in a modern dance concert at Studio Multitude in Paris, France on October 19, 1998. During this tour, Metal-Corbin was invited to meet with Ambassador Gerald McGowen at the American Embassy in Lisbon and with Mary C. Yates, Cultural Attaché, for the American Embassy in Paris.
  • Selected to present a paper for the Lisbon conference which was also published as follows:
  • Metal-Corbin, J. (1998). Confronting ageism through intergenerational dance. In A. Macara (Ed.), Actas da Conferencia Internacional Novas Tendencias no Ensino da Danca [Proceedings of the International Conference New Trends in Dance Teaching] (pp. 315 - 319). Oeiras, Portugal: fmh edicoes Publisher.
  • Invited to perform with Dance Consort: Mezzacappa/Gabrian in the 70th Anniversary of the Doris Humphrey/Charles Weidman celebration of "Easter Oratorio, Brooklyn Playhouse, New York , March 28-29, 1998.
  • Selected to perform solo work "Djelem, Djelem," National Dance Association’s Performance Gala for Master Artists, St. Louis, MO, March 21, 1997.
  • Recognized by the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging and the American Dance Therapy Association for dance works integrating elders. Videodance excerpts from "Old Friends," "Out of the Shadow, Into the Light," "A Good Age," "All My Grandmothers Could Sing," and "Age Doesn’t Matter" were used as evidence before a Public Hearing on the Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy and Art Therapy for Older Americans. Washington, DC, June 18, 1992.
  • Recognized by the American Association in Higher Education as 1 of 100 teachers nationwide who had "influenced lives and made a difference" in Washington, DC, April 1991.
  • Toured the United Kingdom, presenting workshops in dance for all ages under the auspices of the North Staffordshire Health Authority and the Beth Johnson Foundation and Keele University in 1987 (August-November).
  • Recognized by the Research Consortium of the National Dance Association as a pioneer in the field of dance for the older adult, April. 1986.

 

HONORS, GRANTS AND AWARDS

Metal-Corbin’s honors and awards include the following:

  • Fellow of the Center for Great Plains Studies, November, 2001.
  • Second Place, Dance Theatre category, Dance Grand Prix Italia, Cesena, Italy, June, 2001.
  • Governor's Arts Award recipient for Excellence in Arts Education, Feb. 1, 2000.
  • Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship in Dance, 1996-97
  • Nebraska Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance's "Dance Educator of the Year Award," 1994
  • Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women Achievement Award, 1988
  • Nebraska Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Honor Award, 1991
  • Outstanding Alumna Award from Slippery Rock University, 1988
  • "Artist-in-the-School/Community" status by the Nebraska Arts Council, 1983 — present.
  • "Excellence in Teaching Award," University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1986
  • Committee on Research at UNO research and equipment grants and Summer Fellowships to pursue choreography
  • "Learning Through the Arts Grant" from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1982
  • Art Award in Dance from the Sun Newspapers , 1981
  • Grant from the Pittsburgh National Bank Charitable Trust for the Arts for creating, choreographing, directing, producing and touring two concerts for the Robert Morris College Orchesis Company, Pittsburgh, PA, 1978
  • Robert Morris College, Susan Cobb Teaching Award, 1974
  • Merit Award (1969) and First Place Cup Award (1968) for Solo and Group Dance at Carnegie-Mellon University, College of Fine Arts.

 

RESIDENCIES

Iowa State University Dance Department, four day residency teaching under the auspices of the "Fisher Visiting Professor/Artist in Residence Fund,"

April 6-9,1997.

Young Dancers in Repertory (YDR), Center for Dance Studies, New York five day residency. Re-staged "Jano" and "Sota" (2 excerpts from "Day of Forgiveness" ) as part of a Brooklyn Arts Council’s International Choreography Project Grant, November 16-20,1996. Since December 1996, it has been performed for 1500 persons at performances at the "National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights in New York City and at Macy’s Department Store (Brooklyn).

 

Mid-Missouri Dance Theater. Re-staged "No Need to Argue" for the spring 1996 concert at the University of Missouri. March 15-18, 1996.

Artist-in-the-Schools/Community for the Nebraska Arts Council

Omaha Public Schools. Taught eight weeks working with 10th, 11th, and 12th graders from North High School integrating dance education into the humanities and physical education. September and October, 1996.

Valley Schools. Taught six classes of third, fourth, seventh and eighth graders for five days integrating dance education into their classroom curricula, presented an assembly program and conducted teacher in-service workshop. March 25-29,1996.

Dundee Elementary School. A seven-day residency entitled "Old and Young Equal One" integrating aging and dance into a sixth grade curriculum. Omaha, NE, May 6-14, 1986.

Mt. View Elementary School. A seven-day residency entitled "Age Doesn't Matter" integrating dance and aging into a fifth grade curriculum. Omaha, NE, May 4-11, 1985.

Belle Ryan Elementary School. A one-day residency funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Arts Council through a "Learning Through the Arts Grant" Omaha, NE, January 8, 1982.

MULTICULTURAL & INTERGENERATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY/COLLABORATIONS

Awarded a Nebraska Arts Council Multicultural Mentoring Grant to work with Shirley Terrell-Jordan, director of an African American company, "Spirits in Movement." The purpose of this grant was to design a piece of choreography that investigated artistic initiatives that would provide a greater level of understanding of cultural diversity. It was an outreach endeavor that involved a diverse group of dancers from the Omaha community, 1997-98.

This grant resulted in the following choreography:

Metal-Corbin, J. (1997). "Wherever You May Be." This work involved 3 gospel singers, a pianist, 3 featured dancers, and 24 dancers from the community ranging in ages 5-67 years. It was adjudicated by a regional panel and selected from a field of 25 to be performed in a program of 8 works. The piece was premiered on September 19, 1997 at the Lied Education Center for the Performing Arts, Omaha, NE.

Other examples of multicultural/intergenerational work:

Metal-Corbin, J. (1996). "Day of Forgiveness." Premiere Performance, Lied Center for the Performing Arts, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, October 25, 1996. This was a collaborative endeavor between the University and the Omaha community with support from a Nebraska Arts Council grant and was viewed by over 700 people. This piece included five refugees from Bosnia who sang and accompanied the dance. They were displaced professionals (an attorney, economist, pro soccer player, marketing manager and a high school student) who were vocalists and musicians. In addition to these performers, there were eleven modern dancers of various ethnic backgrounds and two international folk dancers. The piece included a photo image of internationally acclaimed photojournalist, Gilles Peress, as a backdrop to the dance. The choreography integrated modern dance with traditional folk forms from Bosnia, Israel, Greece, the Balkan mountains, and Hungary. The design for the dance in five movements evolved from a contextual base surrounding a traditional holiday in May called "Djurdjevdan" a day of renewal, of forgiveness, of rebirth.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Choreographer), Czarnecki, E. (Photographer), Fitzsimmons, M. (Composer). (1997). "Earthkind, Humankind." College of St. Mary’s, Hillmer Gallery, March 16, 1997. This dance celebrated the lives of nineteen women

photographed by Eva Czarnecki.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Director/Choreographer), Barela, A. (Graphic Specialist). (1995). "No Need To Argue." Premiere Performance, Creighton University Interim Performing Arts Center, October 27, 1995. This work, for eleven dancers ranging in ages 5-68 years, investigated the conflict and fulfillment found in mother/daughter relationships. It integrated computer-generated art, music and dance.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Choreographer/Performer), Gendler, J.R.(Poet), & Welk, R. (Lighting Designer). (1995). "Lumiere", Premiere Performance, UNO’s Experimental Theater, March 10, 1995. This work for nine dancers (ages 10-65 years) integrated dance, lighting and poetry. Excerpts performed for "The Final Gifts: Care of the Dying" conference, UNO, Peter Kiewit Center, Omaha, NE, November 11, 1994.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Director/Choreographer), de St. Croix, B. (Sculptor/Artist), & Curtis, J. (Narrator). (1993). "Vanishing: Endangered Species of North America." Premiere performance, UNO Art Gallery, June 6, 1993. This twenty-minute work for six dancers integrated dance, the spoken word and 200 lead tiles and oil paintings.

 

Metal-Corbin, J. (Choreographer), Leicester, A. (Sculptor), Bales, W. K. (Composer). (1996). "Perseverance." Inauguration ceremony for the dedication of Leicester’s sculptural amphitheatre, College of Fine Arts, University of Nebraska at Omaha , October 1996. This site specific dance integrated sign language, the artwork of Oswaldo Guayasamin and photos from Life magazine as the contextual basis for the dance. Families from the community and "Moving Company" dancers performed in this work.

 

Metal-Corbin, J. (Director/Choreographer), (1995). "Pain." Premiere Performance, UNO’s Experimental Theater, March 25, 1994. This work explored the cycle of pain, fatigue, anger, indulgence and bliss experienced by dancers when recovering from a dance injury. It was also reviewed by the NDA Gala Adjudication Committee for the 1994 AAHPERD Convention. Twenty-nine dances were submitted to this adjudicatory panel of five dance educators and performers and thirteen were selected. "Pain" was performed on April 16, 1994 in Denver, CO for the National Dance Association.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Director/Choreographer), Ferguson, C. (Sculptor), Vendri, M. (Composer), & Duncan, N.(Storyteller). (1993). "The Peak That Flew From Afar." Premiere performance, Joslyn Art Museum, January 16, 1993. This twenty-seven minute work for two dancers integrated sign language, art, essay, poetry and the music of Spanish composer, Mario Vendri and the writings of Taoist monks.

Metal-Corbin, J. (Director/Choreographer), Foltz, R. (Composer), & Tohe, L. (Poet). (1991). "Making Friends with Water." Premiere Performance, Jewish Community Center, Omaha, NE, April 13, 1991. This was an intergenerational dance (ages 7-70 years) for ten dancers inspired by Native American poetry focusing on the importance of caring for the environment and on the passing down of tradition amongst generations.

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