WHEREAS, Ione Shirley Osborne was born on October 1, 1923 and due to a medical condition was unable to walk until the age of four; and
WHEREAS, Married to Archie Lee Nash in 1944, she had been dissuaded from pursuing dance in her youth but early in her marriage decided that it was the dream that she wanted to chase; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Nash began with the discipline of ballet but soon moved to the modern, jazz, tap and interpretive forms; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to expand opportunities for dancers she opened her own dance school in Germantown in 1960 which was trailblazing for it was the first African American business opened on Germantown Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The Ione Nash Dance Ensemble was established in 1960 as well and has gone on to perform and produce over 600 wonderful pieces, including, Dance of the Witch Doll, Dances of the Sacred Skull, Fire Dance, Warrior and the Panther, and African Stool Dance; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Nash has developed her own technique which she describes as, BBACCMAJH'T which is a meshing of Brazilian, Ballet, African, Cuban, Carribbean, Modem, American, Jazz, Haitian and Tap; and
WHEREAS, lone Nash is still going strong today as she is teaching a Master's class in her technique; and
WHEREAS, There is little doubt that she has touched almost everyone in the dance community in the City of Philadelphia through her extraordinary works and deeds; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby, honor and commend Ione Nash for her decades of dedication to the Philadelphia dance community.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Ms. Nash to express the sincere sentiments of this City Council.
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