Bill T. Jones
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The tenth of twelve children born to a poor Southern family in 1952, the
brilliant dancer Bill T. Jones has had more than his share of struggles
as a gay, HIV-positive, African-American artist. But despite his life's
setbacks, he has risen to prominence as one of the world's most
highly-regarded dancers and choreographers. His accomplishments are
manifold: recipient of Choreographic Fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, an honorary doctorate from Bard College, and a
1994 MacArthur Fellowship, among many others, and founder of the
American Dance Asylum and (with his late partner Arnie Zahn) his lauded
self-named dance troupe in 1982.
Even more compelling are Jones' unstoppable energy and dazzling wit and
eloquence. "Do something that scares you. I dare you to stand up and
speak in public. I dare you to start singing in a crowded room," he once
challenged a group of promising choreographers. His unorthodox and
sometimes difficult takes on life and how to relate to the rest of the
world are an inspiration to anyone who hears him.
Jones is also the author of several acclaimed books, including Dance,
a child's introduction to the joys of dancing, and Body
Against Body.
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